Flowers – Rocks and Transition

Neither Wendy nor myself have ever been to Joshua Tree, so our understanding of the whats wheres and hows was limited.   We expected a big desert and hopefully some wild flowers, but we received something far more vibrant and diverse than we could have possibly imagined.

Joshua Tree is a transitional zone encompassing three deserts, the Sonora, Colorado and Mojave.  The geology and botany changes radically as you move short distances.  The park itself is very user friendly with well marked trails and off trail hiking as well.   There are no facilities per se, and it’s important to bring water, food and protection from the sun.  We where there in March and the weather was hot from 11am to 3pm and perfect the rest of the time.

One of the most striking things in abundance is of course the mighty Joshua Tree.

Yet in keeping with the parks diversity even the tree itself cannot be content with one look as it changes radically throughout it’s life cycle.

Here is one that reminds me of something Dr Seuss might have painted.  A dancing tree.

Here is a younger Tree

And surrounding the trees are surreal looking rock formations with Cactus and Tree’s growing from their cracks.

Everywhere you looked, there where fresh blooms, even in the thorniest of places.

Sometimes you see images and faces, like this one below which to me looks like a blacksmith hitting the anvil.