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Joshua Tree


Joshua Tree
Photo Information
Copyright: Julie Wyatt (j_wyatt) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 142 W: 40 N: 211] (1235)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2003-12-30
Categories: Trees
Camera: Canon Powershot G2
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/640 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): arbres - trees [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-01-05 21:49
Viewed: 4635
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Joshua trees, Yucca brevifolia, are found only in North America in the states of California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada. Confined mostly to the Mojave Desert between 2,000 and 6,000 feet, they thrive in the open grasslands of Queen Valley and Lost Horse Valley in Joshua Tree National Park.

The Joshua tree's life cycle begins with the rare germination of a seed, its survival dependent upon well timed rains. Young sprouts may grow several inches in the first five years, then slow dow, averaging one half inch per year thereafter. The tallest Joshua tree in the park looms a whopping forty feet high, a grand presence in the Queen Valley forest; it is estimated to be over nine hundred years old. These "trees" do not have growth rings like you would find in an oak or pine. This makes aging difficult, but you can divide the height of a Joshua tree by the average annual growth of one half inch to get a rough estimate.

The trunk of a Joshua tree is made of thousands of small fibers and lacks annual growth rings, making it difficult to determine its age. This tree is not very sturdy because of its shallow root area and top-heavy branch system. But, if it survives the rigors of the desert, it can live a couple hundred years.

One of the most beautiful spectacles in spring is the creamy white blossoms of blooming Joshua trees. These white candles can be seen from February to late April. Joshua trees do not branch until after they bloom and they don’t bloom every year.
scottevers7, red45, LCannon has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To japie: Thanks, it really was interesting to drivej_wyatt 1 01-09 01:49
To willie: I love roads so I left it in, but Ij_wyatt 1 01-06 14:47
To Xplorator: We took this last year so probablyj_wyatt 1 01-06 14:46
To scottevers7: The desert is so unusual and interesting.j_wyatt 1 01-05 22:55
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Critiques [Translate]

A nice desert scene with the road to nowhere look. I took alot of photos in the desert around Las Vegas recently, and your information on Joshua trees is great.

  • Great 
  • red45 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2636 W: 74 N: 9091] (31094)
  • [2005-01-06 4:02]

Great sky and great Joshua tree. Remains me old U2 song. I like your picture Julie, maybe it is too much road on the left side but overall beautiful landscape. Please send more !

Very nice Julie. IMO you could have cloned out the road to give a better overall image otherwise, a very informative good post. TFS

If you toof this pic in Mojave N. P. on the way to I-15 to Vegas last weekend in december I mightve just seen you on the road ...

  • Great 
  • japie Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1814 W: 100 N: 1904] (5187)
  • [2005-01-08 23:34]
  • [+]

Great shot Julie. The color of the sky here is fantastic and the tree stands out against the skyline. Very interesting note too.

Very well done and thanks for posting

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