I have loved trees since I was a kid. I admired how Palm trees reach up towards the sky. They are an iconic part of the southern California landscape. I admired bonsai trees small enough to fit in a window sill and whose beauty are from nature and also guided by the hand of man. I admired Joshua trees for their wild and spiky appearance. I knew there was a National Park named after them and wanted to visit. We stayed in the Yucca Valley to visit Pioneertown and Joshua Tree National Park. There are trails to hike and lots of Joshua Trees.
We went on the Barker Dam trail and saw Barker Dam.
Sadly it’s been very dry and there wasn’t much water behind the dam.
I am very impressed by how tough Joshua Trees are surviving in such a hot and dry environment. They are very cool looking.
We visited in January and it was dry and chilly. Nice time to visit as it was not hot nor crowded. I’d love to visit again at this time of year after it has rained.
The Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) is the namesake of Joshua Tree National Park and a defining feature of the Mojave Desert. Once classified as a giant lily, modern DNA research has placed it in the Agave family. Like the California fan palm (Washingtonia filifera), the Joshua tree is a monocot—part of the same botanical group that includes grasses and orchids.
The National Park Service
Coordinates: 34°06′N 116°16′W / 34.1°N 116.27°W
Great pictures!
Thanks!