The Joshua Tree for which the park is named.
It is not a tree at all but a yucca. The blossom of the yucca is a beautiful and substantial flower.
In spring the desert can bloom with an incredible variety of flowers. These pictures were taken in March, 2008. It wasn't a particularly good year. I'm wondering what this year will be like.
Here a delicate flower (brittlebush?) nestles with the prickley teddy bear cholla.
There is beauty in the bark and tiny green leaves of the ocotillo.
Back lit, the fiddle neck glows in the light of the setting sun.If I go again this year I had better bring my books with me so I can identify all these flowers. If you're interested in finding where to see California wildflowers and identifying them, I have found a great website. Michael Charters has posted dates, pictures, and names of flowers from his many field trips in Southern California. It should be a great help in planning trips and identifying plants.
See more worlds at That's my World, hosted for us by Klaus, Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy, and Sylvia.
26 comments:
I especially like the last photo with the setting sun behind the plant.
The Joshua tree is the oldest living tree. . . The name Joshua tree was given by a group of Mormon settlers who crossed the Mojave Desert in the mid-19th century. The tree's unique shape reminded them of a Biblical story in which Joshua reaches his hands up to the sky in prayer.
I never think of it as a plant or cactus but a tree.
I agree with Paulie, the last photo is stunning! But I love them all! Enjoy your time with Michael! And have a great week, Martha!
Sylvia
The desert is such a beautiful place. I enjoyed all of your pictures. I drove through the Arizona Joshua Tree Forest this weekend on the way to Las Vegas. It is hard to believe that they aren't trees, isn't it?
Martha, Why do I always have questions? Now I'm wondering what the temps will be this time of year in Joshua Tree? The Yucca bloom is gorgeous! I'm partial to the texture of the bark, too. Have a good time snuggling with Michael.
Nice weather this time of year. Highs in the 70s and lows in the 40s. In the summer it is hot, hot, hot; over 100 most days and can get near 120!
I can feel the warm and dry desert by your photos. It's amaizing how colourful a desert can be when it gets a little rain :)
I've heard the dessert is alive with colour in March. I hope you'll post zillions of photos!
Ah, so the Joshua tree is a yucca! :)
It never ceased to amaze me how one part of the world can differ from another and how the most common plant to one area is so exotic to my eyes.
Martha: Wonderful summer like captures coming into my world of winter.
Joshua Tree ! Such a cool spot. Great post, that last photo is especially beautiful!
this is one of those places i've had on my list for the longest time. thanks for sharing.
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Nice pictures. I remember when I was a kid in Arizona the desert would be beautiful in the Spring especially if there had been just a little bit of rain.
this is beautiful, its been a long time since i've been there and the spring blossums must be amazing, but i've never been there during the wildflower blooms :(
Looks like a beautiful place. I always enjoy seeing photos of desert flowers as I've never spend much time in that type of environment.
What a coincidence, I was just at the desert gardens at the Hunt yesterday. I saw the yucca flowers. Is this the same as the yucca root crop? Last week I made yucca pudding. The last photo looks like neon lights.
See you soon.
I love the light in that last photo!
Beautiful park with lovely flowers. What a variety. Loved yucca.
They are all wonderful photos, I love the wildflowers.
Each of these is beautiful. Love seeing that clear, rich, blue sky, too! Thank you for the gorgeous reminder of desert plant life. It's been quite a while since I've seen them in bloom and wish I could be there this spring since there has been so much rain. I'm counting on you to get (and post) lots of photos! =D
Wonderfully colourful shots. We're having a blizzard in My Muskoka , on top of a major melt yesterday.
We're so cold and wet...glad to see flowers.
Gorgeous photos, especially the last one with the glowing fiddleneck. Enjoy your visit with Michael.
This brings back wonderful memories of our visit there a few years' ago. Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos.
OMG JTNF is my all time fave place in the desert! Have not been in a few years cuz my girls don't want to come but I just love it up there!I love your shots of the wildflowers the desert dandelion is my fave of your shots. have an awesome week!
I really like that last photo with the sunlight peering through...very nice!
I love visiting the desert. It's such a contrast to my usual habitat and the starkness has such beauty. Desert plants are so exotic!
Beautiful desert plants and wildflowers! Love the golden glow in the last photo.
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