Joshua Tree National Park

On Saturday, we had planned to meet up with friends in Joshua Tree, California, so, we decided to use the majority of the day to visit Joshua Tree National Park and meet up with our friends in the afternoon.

We decided to go in via the southwest entrance and drive through a large portion of the park before reaching where our friends were at the Sportsman's Club in Joshua Tree, CA. Google map here.

Where we entered the park, there weren't a lot of Joshua trees, but we started seeing some, and they had big blooms at the top.

Then we entered an Ocotillo grove...

Love Ocotillos!

They were blooming.

So pretty against the clear blue sky.

The information sign reminded us that Ocotillo are not cactus.

Don't confuse this unusual-looking plant, ocotillo (Fouquireia splendens), for a cactus. The thorny, multi-stem shrub is in fact a woody deciduous plant. Unlike other deciduous shrubs, which normally grow leaves in the spring and drop them in the fall, the ocotillo may grow and drop leaves as often as five times during the year. Its leaves aren't season dependent but rain dependent.

Following a sufficient rain, the ocotillo puts forth a cluster of leaves above each thorn, adorning the otherwise dead-looking canes with a flourish of green. At the same time red blossoms may appear at the tips of the canes. The leaves go about the business of photosynthesis -- converting light energy into food energy -- until the next drought; then the leaves turn red or brown and drop.

Our next stop was at the Chollo Cactus Garden -- they appeared almost back lit in the sun...

... and they look like they would be soft to touch, but they are quite spiny! We didn't walk through the paths in the garden, but looked from the parking area - while we were there, a wind came up blowing dust -- and also spines from the chollo! I got a small cluster attached to my arm but we were able to easily get it removed.

A bloom on another type of cactus that was near the cholla garden.

Blooms on a cholla

We stopped in this area to admire the huge boulders. I am standing next to a Joshua tree that has an interesting growth...

We are pretty sure that this is what the bloom area looks like after the petals drop.

Another view of the stones. We could see people on top of the stones - they looked like small insects. We decided that climbing on stones was not wise for us to do!

We drove up to Keys View -- it provides a view over into the valley where Palm Springs is located and where Gracie was parked.

We knew that it would be hazy because it was hazy before we left the RV park...

... but it was still nice to see.

Another Joshua tree up by Keys View.

We headed out of the park to the town of Joshua Tree and the Sportsman's Club...

... where our friends were participating in a rock show.

We got pictures of other folks' booths, but neglected to get one of Gary and Ines's booth!

Gary and Ines have beautifully mounted stones in jewelry (made by Gary) and beautiful gourd art and woven baskets (made by Ines).

We did remember to get a picture after we had supper together.

It was good to get to visit with Pastor Gary and Ines. We look forward to seeing them again in just 6.5 weeks for the Christian Fellowship Rally in Wells, Nevada!