The plant that first comes to my mind is Brittlebush. You can do a web search and see if this is what you saw.

I would guess Desert Marigolds.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:425364}}

Thanks. I believe it is the Desert Marigold. The Brittlebrush, I also saw. I like that as well.

Thanks for the quick responses.

I'm pretty sure I have some seeds left over from the last time I harvested seeds from my desert marigolds. If you'd like some, just email me and I can toss them in an envelope to you (grant_in_arizona@yahoo.com). They really are fun short-lived perennial plants here.

Take care,
Grant

another one with silver leaves and small yellow flowers that you can see all over the valley is also one of my wife's favorites: Silvery cassia. (Cassia phyllodenia)

http://www.mccabesnursery.com/Old%20Site/Products%20Pages/Shrubs/Silver%20Leaf%20Cassia.htm

I have seeds if by any chance that's what you saw.