Thursday, January 26, 2017

Rain In The Desert

A long time ago, when rainfall used to be more plentiful, hardy folk grazed cattle in what is now Joshua Tree National Park. Dams (sometimes called "tanks") were built to trap rainwater for the cattle, and there are a handful in the park that survive to this day. The best known is Barker Dam. Seems like every time I've hiked the area in the past few years, Barker Dam has been dry or with an underwhelming amount of water. Usually not much more than a mud hole.

Enter the recent rains we've been having, and Barker Dam has been transformed!! I took these photos Sunday morning, before all the rain of Sunday afternoon and evening, so there is even more water now!
The morning started out with a nice view of a rainbow out our kitchen window. It actually looks like the end of the rainbow lands in our front yard! What a nice way to start off our day!!




Not your typical desert view, wouldn't you agree!!?
Start planning now for the spring wildflower blooms in the CA desert. They should be fantastic!

Linking with Skywatch Friday.
Click on the link to check out great skies from around the world. Thanks for stopping by!!

47 comments:

  1. The perspective in these photos is just so perfect. LOVE IT!

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  2. Great pictures of the desert and that little girl. As a fan of old broken down trucks, I also love your header photo.

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  3. Wow - those are extraordinary photos. The desert can be one of the most beautiful places on the planet.

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  4. wow---- I'd love to see what pops out this spring! Incredible shots!

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  5. Absolutely amazing photos! There's nothing like rain in the desert....now send some my way!

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  6. It's good to see the water accumulating like that.

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  7. Amazing , always a love your pics.
    Greetings.

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  8. Amazing reflections in the water.

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  9. love your photos. The desert is totally transformed. So beautiful. Hope the water will stay. We could use some our water level is very low now. :(

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  10. There is a pot of gold at the end of that rainbow & you are sitting in it!! Those desert scenes are gold! Wonderful to witness!

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  11. Stunning captures!Happy weekend ahead!

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  12. Great shots. Who should have thought that. Wonder how the flowers will be.

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  13. Hello, love the rainbow! It is great seeing the water, the drought in Ca should be over now? Your granddaughter is a sweetie. Great series of sky shots. Happy Friday, enjoy your weekend!

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  14. I'm happy you're getting some rain. I think rainbows and flutterbys are two of the most lovely gifts

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  15. All beautiful, especially the first. Great capture of a rainbow. Maybe one year, I'll go out there but, for right now, the East Coast is my fate.

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  16. Yes! Spring flowers! California poppies! Our whole state is out of drought I believe. We in Marin are. These shots are crystal good. So good. Thanks for sharing with us all.

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  17. Delightful images. I especially liked second photo from bottom. Why? I liked the movement of the water. Have a great week-end.

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  18. As usual spectacular photography. I am expecting good spring flower sightings this time because of all the rain we had.

    Worth a Thousand Words

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  19. Great series, specially the reflections are wonderful.
    I hope you'll show us some of the flowers in spring. :-)

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  20. Absolutely beautiful pictures.
    You are a clever photographer.

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  21. The desert is so beautiful when rain has fallen! Your captures are stunning! How serendipitous that I also featured a dam (close to Santa Barbara) this week! Have a great weekend! Great to have your grand daughter on your side:)

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  22. Thanks for the reflective and alternative desert view!

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  23. Oh wow all those pictures are so pretty. Breathtaking.

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  24. You have captured all the drama beautifully!

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  25. Very pretty! A nice change of pace, I imagine. How long til the flowers bloom?

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  26. It is magical what just a little rain will do. Beautiful photographs and I was glad to see you sneaked in a photo of your granddaughter.

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  27. I heard that the dam (tank) had water! We will HAVE to get up there next week to see it! Yes, last time we were there, it was DRY, DRY, DRY!

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  28. Love the transformed desert after the rain

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  29. Hi! The rainbow looks very beautiful. After the rain,the scenery is very beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

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  30. Hi! The rainbow looks very beautiful. After the rain,the scenery is very beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

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  31. Impressive photos and weather photos ~ you are blessed with a rainbow and a beautiful daughter ~

    Wishing you a Happy Weekend ~ ^_^

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  32. Oh my....such a beautiful rainbow! I love all your reflections photos! We visited CA last Spring and I miss it ever since...

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  33. Peter, WOW! Awesome! The rainbow view out your window at the start of the day is fantastic and the vivid blue sky is such a contrast with desert landscape. I love seeing your view through through the lens you always have the perfect angle and composition. It would be cool to photograph a place like this once in my life! Thanks for sharing these incredible SWF images. It looks like the little one found something interesting. Have a great weekend and new week!

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  34. So nice to be greeted with a rainbow the first thing in the morning. It is said that there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! Gorgeous shots of Barker Dam and it doesn't look like a desert scene.

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  35. I think you need the water! And I have also seen posts about lots of snow - a proper winter?

    Sorry about slow reply - I have been in New Zealand and blogging has taken a bit of a back seat.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  36. Amazing beauty, though temporary. The southwest is drying out-- our well in New Mexico dropped about 20 feet during the 11 years we lived there.

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  37. What a stunning area, you're right, the water does change the way it looks.

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  38. Wow, it's so unusual to see reflection shots in the desert. I can't wait to see your Spring photo!

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  39. Beautiful photos! I love all the reflections and that rainbow is amazing.

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  40. Wonderful wonderful rain!! Beautiful pictures -- I hadn't thought about wildflowers in the desert after this unusually wet winter -- and what a great thought it is -- wish we could be there..

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  41. I'm looking forward to those blooms and find the recent rain and its effects in CA fascinating. Those are some gorgeous shots, very dramatic and sweeping. Did you find anything at the end of the rainbow? More rain?

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  42. Fantstic pictures of beautiful nature. Excellent work.

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  43. Wow! Gorgeous scenes and Amazing photos of them! I'll be in the area next week.
    I haven't seen that much water behind Barker Dam in a long long time.

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  44. What gorgeous images! I love the big blue skies, fluffy clouds and stunning rock formations!

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