49 Palms oasis in Joshua Tree Nat'l Park

[Yunder Wækraus]

Finally hiked into 49 Palms oasis. It kicked my butt, but I think it was worth it. Missed seeing desert bighorns by 30 minutes.

[realarch]

Beautiful palms, I'm assuming in habit. Some look really old.

Thanks for the post.

Tim

[PalmTreeDude]

I love seeing native Washingtonia filifera! 

[Yunder Wækraus]

34 minutes ago, realarch said:

Beautiful palms, I'm assuming in habit. Some look really old.

Thanks for the post.

Tim

Yeah, this is a very old (and very isolated) native stand, one of only a half dozen in a park the size of Rhode Island.

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

I cant imagine how hot those trunks must have been when those skirts burned. Its a miracle they can survive that extreme of event. 

[necturus]

Yeah, some a-hole set a fire there years ago. Amazing that the strand persisted. I did not find Washingtonia all that attractive until I saw the collections in Joshua Tree. There's something particularly striking about a big group of them like this.

[PalmTreeDude]

I want to some day go to Southern California and see the native Washingtonia filifera. I personally think they look better than Washingtonia robusta, especially with the skirt of dead fronds. If I lived in the desert that is the go to palm I would plant. 

[Yunder Wækraus]

37 minutes ago, PalmTreeDude said:

I want to some day go to Southern California and see the native Washingtonia filifera. I personally think they look better than Washingtonia robusta, especially with the skirt of dead fronds. If I lived in the desert that is the go to palm I would plant. 

They are majestic and unlike anything else I've seen in habitat. There is something alluring about a palm-filled oasis that is so primal that I doubt anyone can fight experiencing a feeling of awe. In the midst of barren rock there rises a compact stand of evergreen palms which promise shade and water. Something deep inside me is drawn to these oases, though I prefer the wet tropics.

[Gonzer]

Great shots but you got gypped. I counted 48 palms.

[Yunder Wækraus]

9 hours ago, PalmTreeDude said:

I want to some day go to Southern California and see the native Washingtonia filifera. I personally think they look better than Washingtonia robusta, especially with the skirt of dead fronds. If I lived in the desert that is the go to palm I would plant. 

Lol!