Lori Carey Photography

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

The Mother of All Joshua Trees

Joshua Tree (yucca brevifolia)

In all my travels I have never seen a Joshua Tree as large and full as this one. It's big enough for several people to stand under and provides the only shade for weary travelers for miles around. The Joshua trees were in full bloom two weeks ago just north of Barstow, although about ten miles further north along the trail where I set up camp the bloom was just getting started.

Joshua Trees are found only in the Mojave desert and they require two things to bloom...rain and a hard freeze. Although there wasn't much rain this year there certainly was a hard freeze. I was sleeping in a tent for a few of them!


I have some catching up on posting to do, don't I? ;)

Joshua Trees, Mojave Desert