Autumn in the Desert
It's hard to believe that I've been back from California for 2 1/2 week already. Nearly every November, Leon and I head out to the desert east of San Diego and Los Angeles. Palm Springs is our base of operations. This year we were joined by our friend Michael. For the first weekend, we were also joined by UrSpo and his partner who drove over from Phoenix.
Indian Palm Canyon
The five of us did a delightful hike in the Indian Palm Canyons. It was fun to introduce Michael to the palm oasis ecosystem, and to go for yet another hike with Urspo and his partner. I also enjoyed all the dragonflies that we saw that day. We also had fun watching all the hummingbirds up at the trading post.
Bluet (Enallagma sp.)
Hummingbird
On Monday, after the Spos had returned to Phoenix, we visited Painted Canyon in the Mecca Hills. Although I brought my camera, I left the memory card in the computer back at the resort. As a result, i enjoyed lugging a useless camera up the canyon and back. The photography on Tuesday was much better at Joshua Tree.
Michael with Joshua Trees
Cute Ground Squirrel
Leon at the crest of the hike
We really enjoyed introducing Michael to some of our favorite desert spots. I'll save the rest of our adventures, including a major mountain hike, for further postings.
Moonrise at Joshua Tree
Labels: desert, Dragonflies, Friends, Hiking
posted by Doug Taron @ 06:52
6 Comments:
The desert is perfect right now! Here in Tucson, too. Well, there could be more interesting bugs for my taste, but I guess most humans think that's (I'm) really weird.
Wow! This is amazing! I never knew there were hummingbirds out in the desert!
I've been to Borrego many times and even camped there once. It's a very cool (or hot) place. Sounds like you guys had a great time.
It is nice to Michael with his pants on for once.
You were basically in our neighborhood, lol. Looks like all of you had a great time in PS. We need to pay a visit to Palm Springs again soon and visit our friends. Like I said, it is practically just around the corner. :) Oh, and I think I saw you waving down from the plane, lol.
Margarethe - I have become a real desert rat in my old age. Like you, my preference is for the time of the year when there are more insects.
Cyren- Welcome to the Tapestry. The species diversity of hummingbirds in the desert is amazing.
Walt- we had a wonderful time. I have camped in Anza Borrego a bunch of times, though not recently. The main problem at this time of the year is that it gets dark so early.
Spo- we do what we can (which isn't much) to keep him in line.
Jim- we had a wonderful time. I am thinking about the possibility of a spring collecting trip to the Las Vegas area. I'll let you know if that develops.
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