Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

After dobbs, women are no longer free.

“Joe Biden deserved better than he got from some folks in his own party.”

It’s pointless to bring up problems that can only be solved with a time machine.

I wonder if trump will be tried as an adult.

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

When you’re in more danger from the IDF than from Russian shelling, that’s really bad.

Can we lighten up on the doomsday scenarios?

… gradually, and then suddenly.

This year has been the longest three days of putin’s life.

Be a traveling stable for those who can’t find room at the inn.

I did not have this on my fuck 2022 bingo card.

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

He wakes up lying, and he lies all day.

I’m pretty sure there’s only one Jack Smith.

GOP baffled that ‘we don’t care if you die’ is not a winning slogan.

‘Museums aren’t America’s attic for its racist shit.’

I’m starting to think Jesus may have made a mistake saving people with no questions asked.

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

You cannot shame the shameless.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

These days, even the boring Republicans are nuts.

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

Republicans can’t even be trusted with their own money.

When someone says they “love freedom”, rest assured they don’t mean yours.

You are here: Home / Photo Blogging / On The Road / On The Road – dmbeaster – Joshua Tree National Park

On The Road – dmbeaster – Joshua Tree National Park

by | 16 Comments

This post is in: ,

On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.

From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.

Submit Your Photos

I’m not exactly sure why, but when I look at the first few photos, all I can think of is Carmen Miranda!  ~WaterGirl

dmbeaster

Many recent pictures of the Mojave have inspired to share just a few of the hundreds of photos I have taken in Joshua Tree Natl Park.  These were in springtime, which is the ideal time to visit, but I also like Fall and Winter.  Summer is hot but OK, and also a fun time for full moon walks in Hidden Valley, which are wonderful.  Most of these pictures were taken in the Hidden Valley area of the park.

On The Road - dmbeaster - Joshua Tree National Park 7

These are the blooms of the Joshua Tree in these next two pictures.

On The Road - dmbeaster - Joshua Tree National Park 6
On The Road - dmbeaster - Joshua Tree National Park 5

Beavertail cactus

On The Road - dmbeaster - Joshua Tree National Park 4

Pencil cholla

On The Road - dmbeaster - Joshua Tree National Park 3

A fun view of the teddy bear cholla patch, which is not in Hidden Valley.

On The Road - dmbeaster - Joshua Tree National Park 2

Ocotillo blooms

On The Road - dmbeaster - Joshua Tree National Park 1

Ocotillo stalk, which is normally stark, but with small leaves in Spring that only last a matter of weeks.

On The Road - dmbeaster - Joshua Tree National Park

I have many rock climbing images, but this activity known as highlining creates more dramatic photos.  This is so popular, and the anchoring requirements for safety rather serious, that setting up a highline is somewhat regulated in the park – especially if you want to use a bolt to anchor the line.  https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/slacklining.htm

Reader Interactions

16Comments

  7. 7.

    StringOnAStick

    I’m glad to see that the guy highlining is wearing a climbing harness and has a self belay line attached to the rope.  He’ll get seriously jerked if he falls, but he won’t die.  Once he gets closer to the rocks, he could smack into one of those pretty badly; confidence and skill are definitely required.

  8. 8.

    StringOnAStick

    The Octillo with the ephemeral leaves reminds me of a house plant / tropical plant called Crown of Thorns.  The latter is in the euphorbia family, I wonder if they’re related? Desert plants deserve huge respect for their ability to persevere under such extreme conditions.

  13. 13.

    J R in WV

    There are a ton of ocotillo cactus in AZ, it depends upon altitude there to some extent. The blooms are on the ends of each spiny stalk, and older ocotillo have many more stalks than young ones. They sell ocotillo in the garden centers at Lowes and Home Depot. We have some native on our tiny place at 5500 feet. Bisbee, AZ, an old boom town with huge mining history has a ton of ocotillo.

    The blooms look like bright red birds perched on the ends of the stalks..

    Love the pics, hope to get to that part of the world someday. And I do see Carmen Miranda in the blooms. Would those blooms deep fry, dipped in corn meal batter?  ;-)

    ETA:  Which is sharper, ocotillo or cholla? depends where you get the thorns stuck in!     ;~)

  15. 15.

    Interstadial

    @StringOnAStick: I also noticed the resemblance which is uncanny.  However, the plants are not related at all. It’s a great example of convergent evolution.

  16. 16.

    Dmbeaster

    @StringOnAStick: They have very little relationship.  They are in different Orders of plants.  Ocotillo are pretty amazing as they are found in the harshest conditions in the Sonoran desert, and not elsewhere.  They get particularly large down in Baja.

Comments are closed.