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| Desert Poppies & Joshua Trees |
I left Anza-Borrego to check out the Desert Lily Sanctuary, retracing my steps from two years ago, but it turned out to be a detour to nowhere. Where countless lilies grew back then was just barren-looking desert now, with invisible seeds hunkered down in the soil for another season -- or as many seasons as it takes before the rains come again.
Joshua Tree was another story. I stopped to explore around the same place I spent the night two years ago, and while the bloom wasn't quite as vibrant as back then, it was still pretty good. I believe I even found the same large Sand Blazing Star plant that was a highlight back then.
The highlight this time happened too suddenly to catch on camera. I was eating lunch at the Cottonwood Day Use picnic site when a cactus wren flew into a short joshua tree right next to the picnic table, giving me a fantastic view of this handsome bird -- for about five seconds.
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| Desert Dandelion |
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| Dandelion Visitor |
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| It was nice to see globe mallow almost everywhere this year. |
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| Many of the joshua trees were in flower. |
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| These lupines were common along many roadsides, even back in Anza-Borrego, but it wasn't until I got to Joshua Tree that I found some in a more picturesque setting. |
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| This guy appeared to be making the rounds of his hunting grounds, moving across the sand from bush to bush. |
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| It was good to encounter some unfamiliar lizards. |
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| This zebra-tailed lizard was so well-camouflaged that it was difficult to find it through the camera lens. Thankfully it stayed put until I finally did find it. |
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| The Mojave desert star that was so sparsely flowered in Anza-Borrego was a bit more filled out here in Joshua Tree. |
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| Canterbury Bells (Phacelia campanularia) |
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| Still a bit early for the beavertail and other cacti to be in full flower. |
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| Painted Lady Butterfly |
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| Checkerspot Butterfly |
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| Sand Blazing Star with Visitor |
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| Phainopepla (Female) |
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| Phainopepla (Male) |
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| As I drove through this beautiful national park I thought that next time I come all the way down to the desert I'll probably make Joshua Tree my main destination. There were lots of other visitors driving through the park, and the campgrounds were full, but you could still park and hike a short ways to explore in peace. |
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