4. Joshua Tree

Tanya on the Rocks. (Tomasito photo)

 Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California is another protected desert park we visited in our Journey to the East.

There are two desert environments in  this huge park--the eastern half, below 3,000 feet above sea level is called the Colorado Desert and the western half, above 3,000 feet, is called the Mojave Desert. 

The Joshua Trees (not trees, but a type of yucca) live in the Mojave part of the park--Creosote bush and cholla cactus covers much of the Colorado part.

Both environments are chock-full of life--plants, animals, birds--even the strange outcroppings of stones seem to be quite alive in their own way!

We love to drive through this big beautiful, inspiring, quiet land--and we love to park and mingle with the desert life-forms. They are so interesting!

Cholla Cactus Garden. (Tomasito photo)

...