Field Trip to Joshua Tree National Park

The National Park Service is celebrating its centennial year in 2016, and Joshua Tree National Park is one of its crown jewels. It is situated north of Interstate 10 freeway, and east of Palm Springs. The Colorado and Mohave Desert, and the Pacific and North America plates meet at the Park; multiple mountain ranges run through it; and the elevation ranges from 506 ft (154 m) to 5,814 ft (1,772 m). At this convergence is a treasure trove of plants representing all these regions, including the fantastical Joshua Tree, which looks like something out of a Dr. Seuss book!

A dusting of snow on Mount San Jacinto

The weather had been cool and wet in the days before my folks and I visited Joshua Tree, so it was not surprising to see snow on Mount San Jacinto on our approach. We entered the park from the south, and made a stop on the large wash between the Bajada Nature Trail and Cottonwood Visitor Center. We saw native tamarisk, poppy, chia, phacelia, desert lavender, cheese bush, purple mat, and the beautiful, shimmering sand blazing star.

Desert explorers

Flower display in the wash between the Bajada Nature Trail and Cottonwood Visitor Center

Sand blazing star, with its shimmering petals

Over the years we have been observing Palo Verde trees infected with mistletoe in this area. The Palo Verde trees no doubt became vulnerable during the drought. Many of the trees appear to be finally dead, along with their mistletoe parasites, but closer inspection reveals dormant mistletoe seeds that are available to be eaten and dispersed.

Palo Verde tree that has succumbed to mistletoe

The Visitor Center was hopping with people stopping in for the latest news. Many schools are on spring break this time of year, so this is a great time for families and students to visit the park, along with the flower lovers of all ages. We saw several Prince’s Plumes at the Center.

Bladder pods, full with moisture

Cholla spp.

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In the higher elevation near Cholla Cactus Garden, we hiked out on the desert floor. We saw bladder pod and Cholla cactus in bloom, and pencil Cholla ready to bloom. The desert lavender was buzzing with pollinators, and very fragrant. We saw male and female Jojoba plants (dioecious). The females had already bloomed and produced seeds. I find Jojoba very difficult to photograph, since its many vertical leaves catch the wind and are in constant motion. I have many blurry pictures to prove it!

Female and mail Jojoba

Phacelia spp.

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Near Skull Rock we enjoyed hiking around the distinctive “monzogranite” rocks and boulders. We saw Beavertail cactus and Yucca schidigera in bloom; Chuparosa that was on the verge of blooming; and the shimmering remnants of tent caterpillars. The boulders and rocks attract rock climbers of all ages and abilities. The sky and air always seem especially clear and beautiful in this area.

Distinctive Joshua trees, schidigera cactus, and monzogranite boulders

To finish off the day, we headed for The Rib Company in Twentynine Palms for delicious half-racks of ribs and all the trimmings. We enjoyed our dinner, and reviewed the events of the day, before heading for home into the sunset.

Palms-to-Pines via Bautista Canyon

My Dad suggested that we drive through Buatista Canyon in East Hemet to Anza Valley, meet up with the Pines-to-Palms Highway, and then drive south to Palm Springs area. Two years ago we followed a similar route, but drove north from Anza Valley through Idylwild (stopping at the old fashioned candy shop for ice cream) to Banning and Interstate 10 (see Drive through the Chaparral). The Bautista Canyon road is partially paved and partially graded, and passes through the dense vegetation of the chaparral.

Dense vegetation in the chaparral

Snow on the mountains near Palms-to-Pines Highway

I always enjoy seeing snow on the surrounding mountains. We stopped at the nearly deserted Pinyon Flat campground in early afternoon, to walk around and enjoy the blue sky with white puffy clouds racing overhead. The temperature was unseasonably cool, which is perfect weather for exploring the desert.

Intrepid explorers in Pinyon Flat campground

Further down the road, we stopped at the Cahuilla Tewanet Vista Point for its grand, sweeping views of the chaparral, surrounding mountain ranges, and valley below. We also hiked around the trails for alternate views, and access to interesting plants.

Short hike to the Cahuilla Tewanet Vista Point

Split selfie at the Cahuilla Tewanet Vista Point (or would that be a split groupie?)

Snag down the trail at the Cahuilla Tewanet Vista Point

The Pines-to-Palms Highway terminates about a block from The Galen art gallery in Palm Desert, so we popped in for a late afternoon tour of the "Baroque to Bling" exhibit, and a quick stroll through the Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden. We visited the museum and garden last spring (see Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden).

The Galen in Palm Desert, California

Bling: a couch made of stuffed animals	Bling: tires used as the world's largest rubber stamps
Bling: detail of an embellished leather jacket	Bling: great display idea for interesting jewelry

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The Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden at The Galen

After all the beautiful scenery and modern art, we stopped at Maracas Cantina in Palm Springs for delicious Mexican food and conversation. After a chilly walk around Palm Springs downtown, we headed for home. A few miles out of Palm Springs, those fast moving clouds finally released their payload in a cold, pelting rain. It was a dramatic end to a wonderful day!

Delicious Mexican cuisine at Maracas Cantina in Palm Springs, California

Southern California Montane Botanical Garden

My folks and I recently completed our annual pilgrimage to the Southern California desert, in pursuit of beautiful wildflowers after El Niño rains. They flew in from Southeast Alaska and I flew in from the San Francisco Bay Area for a week of exploring, hiking, and wonderful companionship. We have our favorite places to visit, like Whitewater and Oak Glen Preserves, Skinner Lake, Palm Springs area, Joshua Tree National Park, and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. We like to compare conditions from year to year, and to try something new!

Apple orchard

Apple blossom

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This year we visited the Southern California Montane Botanical Garden, which is adjacent to Los Rios Rancho (a working apple orchard); and is part of the Oak Glen Preserve, which is managed by The Wildlands Conservancy. The Preserve is located in the San Bernadino Mountains, in a portion of the Transverse Range (oriented east-west, rather than north-south), with an elevation that ranges from 4,900 to 9,300 feet (or 1,493 to 2,835 m). It is a botanically diverse area with close to 1600 plant species.

Early spring visit to the Southern California Montane Botanic Garden

Hummingbird Hill

The botanical garden specializes in plants of the Transverse Range, including many that are endemic to Oak Glen. The garden includes a hummingbird garden, duck pond, pioneer garden with antique farming equipment, forests, and many hiking trails. We visited on a cold misty afternoon in late March (recall two years ago we experienced snow at Los Rios Rancho at this same time of year, see Snow Blossoms)!

Penstemon eatonii (Eaton's firecracker) - Oak Glen Native

Ribes malvaceum (Chaparral currant) - Oak Glen Native

The garden has excellent signage, so we learned about the many species of penstemon and currant species that thrive in the area, and provide nectar to a wide range of pollinators, including hummingbirds, native bees, wasps, and moths.

View of the duck pond

We also enjoyed strolling through the Pioneer garden, and around the duck pond, which is active with wildlife. And yes, we purchased apple turnovers and enjoyed them in the car with the heat cranked up!