Joshua Tree & Desert Center Wildflower Trip
April 1, 2005
Desert Dandelions w/Creosote Bushes
Black Eagle Mine Rd. - Joshua Tree National Park
Friday April 1st
Below you will find numerous photographs taken during an outing to the Joshua Tree National Park/Desert Center region east of Palm Springs, California.
My wife Jen and I, along with good friend Jim Janusz from Palm Desert, enjoyed a perfect desert day with temps in the 80's viewing the beautiful wildflower display courtesy of the second rainiest winter in Southern California history.
During the 12 years I lived in Southern California, I never saw such an intense display... even the El Nino season of the mid 1990's. This year is truly remarkable.
All photos were taken with a Canon EOS 20D digital SLR with the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L lens. Images were captured in RAW, converted in Adobe Camera Raw with minor processing in Adobe Photoshop CS.
Jim, Jen and Chris at the southern entrance to Joshua Tree National Park
Blue Phacelia
Blooming Beavertail Cactus
A large field of Desert Dandelions
Desert Lily
Jim shooting flowers with his Canon 10D
Jen shoots with the 20D
Butterfly on a Desert Dandelion
Another butterfly rests on a Desert Pincushion flower
Desert Mariposa Lily
Desert Primrose
Desert Lupine
Cholla Cactus getting ready to bloom
Ocotillo in bloom
Ocotillo blooming
A parasitic vine grows near the Ocotillo Patch
Afternoon light graces a field of wildflowers near the south entrance of Joshua Tree NP
With tons of butterfly's around, you're bound to get a bug impact at 75mph!
Before heading out to Vince Bert's DC site, we enjoyed a nice dinner at the Desert Center Cafe
(note Jen in the doorway)
Last light in the MOFN!
NOTE: Astrophotos taken during a wonderfully clear evening will be posted shortly! Stay tuned....
All text and photos are © Copyright Chris Cook.
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