Not to be outdone in funky-ness or prickly-ness by the Joshua Trees, the Cholla Cholla Cacti are really something to see in Joshua Tree National Park. We stopped by the Cholla Cholla Cactus Garden on our drive to the south of the Park and I have to say that it is one of the strangest places that I’ve ever been. All of a sudden there is a huge collection of these relatively short, skinny, spiky cacti – they are few and far between anywhere else in the Park so far as I can tell, but they grow in abundance in this one spot. Again – this is one bizarre national park! This cactus garden is another favorite spot of mine here in Joshua Tree.
The longest hike that we did in Joshua Tree was the Lost Palms Oasis Hike, in the southern part of the Park, near the Cottonwood Mountains. It was a hilly hike through an arid, desert landscape, and sure enough at the end of the hike there was a grove of tall palm trees swaying in the wind.
A Desert Tortoise
I haven’t ever seen the Lorax movie so I can’t say whether the Park reminds me of Dr. Seuss’ tome, but I can say that with every rock formation that we passed, every peak that we circled, I half expected for Fred Flinstone to come driving around the corner in his little car, or to see the brontosaurus cranes at the quarry where he worked. Or around another corner to see the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote come shooting across the road! What a fanciful, cartoon-like place.
I love these funky trees – I later found out they are called Ocotillo. Some of them have bright orange flowers at the tips of their wispy branches – so lovely.
I’d highly recommend a trip to Joshua Tree. It’s a wonderful, wacky place that must be unique in the grand scheme of the United States. It’s a lovely, warm (though quite windy while we were there) spot, uncrowded and off the beaten path. If we were there on our own, without Ryan’s parents, I would have loved to take a rock climbing lesson because the climbers all looked like they were having such fun! [Other than the person who had to be evacuated by helicopter – that guy was probably was regretting the decision to climb that day.]
The Lost Palms Oasis
Goodbye Joshua Tree, ’til we meet again.
BY Jackie
LOCATION Joshua Tree National Park, California
