End of an Era

 Remember the lonely call box along the side of a desolate highway? They were like a beacon of hope. You knew that if things got bad, it could serve as your lifeline to get help. I never had the occasion to use one (thankfully), but I did reference one on a regular basis.

For years, when we would hike out in the remote eastern end of Joshua Tree National Park, we would often meet at the "call box turnout". There are very few turnouts in this area, so finding one paved or semi-paved (where you won't get stuck in soft sand) is a big deal. When the location has a call box, it makes it even easier to identify. Added bonus: The call box has reflective material on it, making it easy to spot at night.

 

So imagine my surprise when I was driving by recently on my way to another remote hike when I noticed the call box turnout was missing its call box! Oh no!!

Yup, no call box. It used to be located near the end of the old asphalt, standing proud for all to see. I mentioned it to my friend Mark, who summed it up best: "I'll miss my headlamp picking up its reflection on those late nights hiking back to the car in the dark. It was sort of a friendly beacon, letting you know you made it back safely!"

 

From a local newspaper (Victorville Daily Press, July 22, 2025):

"The hundreds of iconic yellow call boxes that have lined freeways and highways for more than 35 years will soon be a memory in the rearview mirror as transportation officials have begun the process of removing the devices, which they say have been rendered obsolete by cell phones."

 

Yup, like wristwatches, alarm clocks, paper maps, landline phones, and a slew of other stuff that is now done on our phones, highway call boxes are officially obsolete! Not sure if this is something going on just in my neck of the woods or across the country, but it does seem inevitable. After I got over my shock, I got back in the Jeep and continued on to my next adventure. I passed by this old Joshua Tree National Park sign. It looks ancient, and the road where it's located looks almost hidden and rarely used. Sounds like the perfect spot for a future visit!

 

I wanted to hike up this wash because there are some pictographs at the entrance to the wash. There might be more further up the wash? Perhaps a long shot, but you never know. At the very least, I would enjoy hiking up a wash that looks to be seldom visited, and one I had never hiked before.

This tree appears to be barely surviving. I was impressed by the network of bare branches and roots. Very odd.

 

This Ocotillo tree didn't survive.

 

Due to recent rains, much of the area was green. This in spite of the fact that this is low desert and one of the hottest areas in Joshua tree. You must totally avoid this area during the summer months. On this day, there were areas (photo above) that felt like I was strolling in a park!

 

 

 

Tilted rock.

 

 

I didn't find any petroglyphs, although I barely scratched the surface of exploring the area. I did run across "O.A.O." scratched into a huge boulder. Probably some old miner working the area years ago.
 

Not too far away, more initials, dated January 1931. I wonder if MJD knew OAO?

 

 

There were some flowers to admire during my hike, even though it was late December. I've learned that many desert plants are forced to be opportunists, and will bloom whenever water is available, somehow knowing it could be many more months before the next rain.

 

I need to really hustle down the wash and back to my car. I'm meeting a couple friends for some night photography. Stay tuned, and thanks for dropping by!!

   

Linking with Skywatch Friday.

 

PS: If you see a call box, stop and take a picture for the grandkids!

Smoke Trees in the Evening

 If you want to get close and personal with Smoke Trees, you need to spend time with them. Quality time. Bring a chair and get comfortable. Don't talk, just listen. Watch how their color and even personality seems to change from golden hour to sunset to night. After enjoying myself in Smoke Tree Wash during the late afternoon, I decided to spend more time with my newfound friends and enjoy the sunset and early stars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I used some of my favorite photos to put together this slide show. Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Linking with Skywatch Friday.

Smoke Trees: The Ghosts of the Desert

 I know, it's definitely not a looker. But the Desert Smoke Tree (or Smoketree), Psorothamnus spinosis, is exquisitely adapted to its environment. For some strange reason, I'm drawn to it. It calls to me. Perhaps because it can thrive where few other plants can survive. And perhaps because it often looks desiccated and decimated, and few people give it a second look. To me, it's the quintessential desert plant. Consider this:

• Smoke Trees are extremely drought tolerant.
• They grow almost exclusively in dry, sandy washes that might get flooded with water from a rare desert thunderstorm once or twice a year (or less).
• For their seeds to sprout, the tough hard seed coat must be scarified (which happens when the seeds tumble and scrape along the sand and rocks in a desert wash). Without this scarificiation, the seeds will not sprout. It helps explain why Smoke Trees are found ONLY in desert washes.
• Once scarified, the seed will germinate and send a taproot downward in search of water. At this time, there is no above soil foliage or growth.
• If the taproot finds sufficient moisture, the Smoke Tree sapling begins to grow upward, establishing above ground foliage.
• It grows best where other plants can't survive: In decomposed granite and sandy soils that contain little organic material. A true desert survivor!

Above is a typical Smoke Trees in a desert wash in Joshua Tree National Park. If you are thinking it doesn't look like a tree, I would agree with you. If you're wondering if they are dead, the answer is no, this is just what they look like. Like I said, not a looker.

 

The first time I approached a Smoke Tree, I was surprised that all its branches ended in spines. Sharp spines! Best not to rub up against them.

 

The color of a Smoke Tree is hard to describe. Muted greens, dull orange, and silver, all on the same tree. Strange, ghostly colors that give the impression it dead or dying. Some say that from a distance it looks like rising smoke (hence the name). The trunk is often crooked, with branches going every which way, making the Smoke Tree about as wide as it is high. It's more bush-like than tree-like. And yet, prominent desert painters often include Smoke Trees in their paintings. To my eye, they perfectly evoke the solitude and loneliness of a classic desert landscape.

John Hilton: "The Breath of Spring"

 

John Hilton: "Mountain Landscape"

 

When the Smoke Tree blooms in early summer, it is covered with small, indigo-colored flowers (another name for a Smoke Tree is Indigo Bush). The display is impressive. Bees are highly attracted to the flowers. 

 (Photo credit: LakeHavisuCity.gov)
 

One of the best places to spend some quality time with Smoke Trees in Joshua Tree National Park is... yes, you guessed it... Smoke Tree Wash!

I walk quietly around the Smoke Trees in Smoke Tree Wash and enjoy the solitude. As the sun drops low on the horizon during golden hour, the Smoke Trees pick up the golden light beautifully and really put on a show. They look more like fire than smoke!

 

 

 

 

 

I think I'll hang around in Smoke Tree Wash for sunset and see what happens!!

  

Thanks for stopping by!

Linking with Skywatch Friday.

Time Flies!

 Wow, I can't believe my last post was December 11th!! I never planned to take a blogging break over the holidays. What can I say... Life happens and time flies by!

Lots of cloudy skies and rain in my neck of the woods (Southern CA), which is wonderful. We will indeed be thankful for the rain come this summer. A nice view of the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island in the above photo. Catalina Island is about 40 miles from the spot where this photo was taken.

 

The Toyon berries always look festive this time of year!

 

For those of you who live in wet climes, the next few photos won't be anything special. Those of us who live in lands of litte rain get excited when we see water droplets on plants. We're strange that way!

 

 

 

Heavy fog, with 30-40' visibility. Normally there's an excellent view from here!

 

 

Prickly Pear fruit.

 

Skeletal remains of Prickly Pear pad.

 

Alien seed pod.

 

 

I usually give my friend here a fist bump as I go by on my hikes, but we both agreed a selfie was in order today. Check out his new cactus fruit necklace in the photo below!

 

Fast moving clouds, Christmas Day, 2025.

 

A rainbow over our backyard fence. I'm sure it means good luck and prosperity for 2026!

 

Wishing you all HAPPY HOLIDAYS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Linking with Skywatch Friday.