arid climate/drought tolerants

[Martha Niemann]

I have a piece of property in arid Eastern Washington that I would like 
to plant something on. It is now vacant, sagebrush and wildflower land, 
but we have hopes of building on it one day. Until then, however, I would 
like to have just one or two shrubs/bushes on it that I planted as a 
symbolic jesture, but I don't know what would survive. There is no water 
source, and I live in Seattle, therefore I have no way to nurture it. No 
one here even believes that plants do grow in E WA, but I know something 
must. I considered cactus, but there is none natively around. Would it 
survive/thrive? Is it appropriate?
Any suggestions?

Marti