Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California is known for its arid landscape, for lying on parts of two deserts, its boulders, and of course the Joshua Tree! The tree that lends its name to this national park is native to the Mojave Desert and is known for its unique and almost alien-look!
The park refers to it as a tree you might see in a Dr Suess book, and that’s a fair analogy. Believe me when I say that the Joshua tree is easy to identify. It’s got a fiber-ey trunk that rises straight up and branches out into what looks like smaller trunks with spiky brushes at its tips. They often end up looking something like a natural sculpture.
The Joshua Tree
Curious about how this curious tree got its name? It’s often attributed to the Mormons who crossed over the Colorado River and saw some unusual trees that looked like the biblical character Joshua with his hands up in supplication. These trees also seemed to be directing these travelers to the west.
Whether you identify with what these early travelers saw and symbolized, you’ll surely find these trees of the Mojave Desert to be an interesting sight.
The Joshua Tree, which is endemic to the Mojave Desert in the American Southwest is called Yucca Brevifolia in the world of Biology. This desert plant has thick, spiny leaves to help it preserve its moisture and survive in the arid conditions of the Mojave Desert.
If you see it in the spring, you might even get to see its cream blossoms. (Oh! I’d love to see that sometime!)
Have you been to Joshua Tree National Park or seen these trees anywhere in the American Southwest? Are there any interesting trees you’d like to tell me about? Please feel free to share about your finds (or links to blog posts on them) in the comments.
More:
US National Parks
Trees to get to know
Also linking to —
Pictorial Tuesday
My Corner of the World
Thursday Tree Love
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That’s very cool! #PictoiralTuesday
Nature is super-cool, no? 🙂
Thank you for visiting, Lydia. 🙂
Beautifully photographed and interesting narration.
Thank you so so much, Magic.
It’s always an honor to hear that from you. Thank you so, so much.
I hope you are doing well. 🙂
…I have seen many pictures of Joshua Tree National Park and its Dr Seuss tree, but I’ve never been there. Thanks Dee for taking me along to see the sights. Where are we off to next?
‘Dr. Suess Tree quite suits it, no? 😀
The Joshua Trees are a great sight. I haven’t seen the park properly. It was a short visit. I’d love to go see it again sometime. Death Valley too; I’m desperate to go back there. 🙂
Thank you for visiting, Tom. It’s a pleasure.
Where next? Let me show you some fall color from the Sierra Nevada Mountain range. It’s not a lot. I’m sure you get to see more color. 🙂
So very cool and unique. I loved the information you provided. Thank you, Divya for joining. See you tomorrow. 🙂
Unique indeed.
Thank you so much, dear Parul. And thank you for hosting TTL. <3
I have not been to the park but I have been other places that have the Joshua Trees and yes they are very distinctive!
Yeah, there are some places around the National Park where you can see these trees. I see some on the way to Vegas too. (When driving from the west)
You’ll enjoy the park too, Alan. 🙂
They are so witchy!
Oh yeah! Quite! 😀
With Halloween around the corner this is just the post for the season. 😉
Thank you for coming this way, Matheikal.
The Mojave desert sure has some majestic trees. Thanks for sharing glimpses from Joshua Tree National Park.
The pleasure is mine, Pragun. 🙂
Thank you for coming to see these trees.
These are so beautiful!! Thanks for sharing Divya!! We have another Yucca species that grows in Pune. Maybe some day I can see these Joshua trees!!
They do have a beauty of their own and they’re fun to photograph!
I’d love to see ‘that’ variety of Yucca too.
I hope you’ll get to see these trees soon. I look forward to seeing your pictures on TTL. 🙂
I’ve only been to California once and it wasn’t near this national park but I read a blog written by a man who takes frequent hikes in the park. I’ve seen this many times on his blog but I’d love to see it in person one day.
Then you must be familiar with this tree (technically a plant), and I’m sure you’ll be able to recognize it when you see one. 🙂
Thank you for coming this way, Alana.:)
Fascinating details! I love the photo with the sun as a starburst with rainbows and the tree in silhouette.
Hey Joanna,
Thank you. That’s one of my favorite pictures from this set, too.
Thanks again. 🙂
Beautiful photos! Would love to visit Joshua Tree sometime!
Thank you, Kym.
I hope you get to visit, soon. 🙂
We love Joshua Tree NP and have visited it several times. There is so much to see there and really everywhere in the Southwest part of our country. All the National Parks in Utah and Arizona and California. And pretty much everything in New Mexico. One place we loved in the latter that I don’t see much about (except on my own blog) was Sky City.
The landscapes in the southwest is fascinating, really! There’s so much more I have to see and would love to!
Thank you for telling me about Sky City, Sallie. Will keep it in mind when I’m planning my trips that side.
Thanks again. 🙂
Great post and pics! The Joshua trees are indeed unique, almost like something from a storybook. The history behind their name is intriguing.
Thanks a ton, Shiju.
They really do look like they belong to another world, no? 😀
Thank you for coming this way. 🙂
Wow! Awesome captures and post! Yes, they are definitely giving Dr. Seuss vibes.
Thank you, Chandra.
IKR? Love the analogy! 🙂
Thank you for stopping by. 🙂
Wow:) sounds interesting, I liked the Joshua tree – and yea right it looks like Joshua- relatable when we read about Joshua in the bible, every picture is a great click, thanks for sharing.. felt like i have visited California, thank you.
I was so intrigued by this tree when I first heard about it. I’m glad I got to see them.
Happy to hear that you enjoyed getting to know this tree and that you enjoyed the post.
Thank you so much for visiting, Angela. 🙂