1. Joshua Trees. The Cima Dome in the EMNP hosts the most spectacular Joshua tree forest in the world. Or the universe, though I suppose we could argue that anything that can evolve here might occur somewhere else in a more or less infinite universe. Anyway, we targeted the Cima Dome for dinner and a walk among the trees, with photos at sunset.
We had to wait for the good light, so made ourselves a little pizza dinner.
The forest on the Cima Dome is as thick and forest-like as any dry-country forest. The underbrush--grasses, sages, cholla cactus, etc.--was substantial as well, and provided a home for many hares and rabbits.
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One of the more impressively tree-like Joshua trees I've seen. |
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A Joshua tree reaches an arm down to show off its blossoms. |
Once the sun sets, the trees get together to gossip and wave their arms around.
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The jet trail adds a certain something, if only a reminder that this wilderness is under the flight path east from LAX. |
Once the show was over, we drove the 50ish miles on through the Preserve to the Kelso Dunes. We had it on good authority (my in-laws) that the desert primroses were in bloom there a week before, and were crossing our fingers that they would still be. Even arriving in the dark, we could see that we were in luck.
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Flash photo of the primrose next to our tent. |
In the morning, we got up early, meaning to be the first atop the main dune (in the background). But we got distracted within yards.
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The main dune is about a mile off and is about 700' high. |
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As the blossoms fade, they turn a beautiful shade of pink/purple. You can also see the buds ready for the next night's bloom. |
It takes some care to avoid crushing the flowers while shooting the pictures, but with an ever-increasing number of people coming to the dunes, it's all the more important.
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Photographer in heaven. |
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Kangaroo rats were here. Note the drag marks made by their tails. |
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The Providence Mountains are silhouetted behind the main dune. |

On another day we might have wandered farther out into the secondary dune fields, but we had an 8-hour drive to get back home, so left it for another visit, and counted ourselves fortunate to have seen another major primrose bloom at the Kelso Dunes.
©Rebecca M. Douglass, 2016
As always, please ask permission to use any photos or text. Link-backs appreciated!
As always, please ask permission to use any photos or text. Link-backs appreciated!
Glorious photos! I'm so glad I can hike these places with you without any effort :)
ReplyDeleteLOL! But I'm telling you, much nicer in person. And these didn't even involve all that much effort. Except maybe climbing the sand dunes. That's always a lot like work.
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