The most interesting thing for us here was learning about the tree for which the park is named and seeing it, in such abundance, in this stony desert region so inhospitable to almost everything else.
This National Park is actually established where the Sonoran Desert and the Mohave Desert converge bringing two distinct desert ecosystems together.
The Joshua Tree thrives in the slightly higher, wetter, and cooler Mohave Desert. According to legend, Mormon pioneers compared the limbs of the tree to the upstretched arms of the Biblical Joshua pointing them in the direction of the Promised Land. Not everyone has described it as enthusiastically – early explorer, John Fremont described them as the most repulsive tree in the vegetable kingdom.
It was (and generally always is) very hot when we visited. We walked around a little and picked Spike up as soon as we came across this beautiful, big guy!
Thoughs and Things
Remember on your travels to always respect wildlife. You will generally always be trespassing on their habitat. Wildlife needs our protection. Learn more about coyotes at the Atlanta Coyote Project website.