Desert Dreaming

As you may already know, I adore California's deserts: high deserts redolent with sagebrush, low deserts of sunny cactus gardens and shaded palm oases, and mid-elevation deserts with Joshua Tree forests and pure stands of fragrant creosote bush.

Vibrant colors after a spring rain at Mojave National Preserve

California is home to three distinct desert ecosystems: the Great Basin, Mojave and Colorado deserts.  Beyond California's borders, the Colorado desert flows seamlessly into the Sonoran desert of Arizona; the fourth North American desert, the Chihuahuan desert, reaches the southeastern corner of Arizona and covers a portion of southern New Mexico and western Texas.

Late winter and spring are the ideal times to visit California's deserts, and for the past several years, we've been fortunate enough to make annual pilgrimages to some of these special places.  This year, of course, travel is out of the question.  We will be staying home, admiring photos and videos of the desert in bloom from afar.  I would like to share some photos with you that can only attempt to capture and convey the beauty of our deserts.

The following photos were taken over the last few years in some of my very favorite places in California's deserts: Mojave National Preserve, Joshua Tree National Park, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Death Valley National Park.  Enjoy!

Beavertail Cactus 

Cholla after a rainstorm at Mojave National Preserve

Sunrise over Joshua Tree National Park - my favorite time of day in the desert!

Cholla flower

Trail to Lost Palms Oasis, Joshua Tree NP

Cholla flower

Apricot Globe Mallow - one of my favorite desert blooms!

Ocotillos and yuccas in bloom in nature's desert garden (Joshua Tree NP)

Desert sunrise at Joshua Tree NP

Claret Cup Cactus

Life always finds a way!

A desert garden in abundant spring bloom, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Hedgehog Cactus

Palo Verde tree in bloom at Anza-Borrego

Diminutive and beautiful Fishhook Cactus

Nature's rock garden at Anza-Borrego: Barrel Cactus and cholla

I love the pink color, spiny texture and sculptural shapes of barrel cactus!

Desolate beauty at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

The spines of this cactus turn brilliantly pink after a soaking rain

Mojave Mound Cactus

Vibrant colors after a rainstorm in Death Valley National Park

The view from Zabriskie Point, Death Valley National Park

Sunset over the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Death Valley National Park

Mormon Point, Death Valley

The rugged, beautiful, snow-capped Panamint Range, west of Death Valley

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