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!!
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47 comments:

  1. MichelleJanuary 26, 2017 at 4:13 PM

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

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  2. IngerJanuary 26, 2017 at 4:31 PM

    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. AlJanuary 26, 2017 at 4:33 PM

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

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  4. Bill January 26, 2017 at 4:49 PM

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

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  5. sage and spiritJanuary 26, 2017 at 5:08 PM

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

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  6. Carol @Comfort Spring StationJanuary 26, 2017 at 5:18 PM

    Great pics of the desert and sky

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  7. Ruth HiebertJanuary 26, 2017 at 6:19 PM

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

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  8. JimJanuary 26, 2017 at 8:59 PM

    Beautiful scenery

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  9. rupam sarmaJanuary 26, 2017 at 10:00 PM

    Amazing , always a love your pics.
    Greetings.

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  10. RajeshJanuary 26, 2017 at 11:10 PM

    Amazing reflections in the water.

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  11. NatureFootstepJanuary 27, 2017 at 12:35 AM

    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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  12. ChristineJanuary 27, 2017 at 2:36 AM

    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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  13. IreneJanuary 27, 2017 at 3:06 AM

    Stunning captures!Happy weekend ahead!

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  14. s.cJanuary 27, 2017 at 3:10 AM

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

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  15. eileeninmdJanuary 27, 2017 at 3:52 AM

    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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  16. Author R. Mac WheelerJanuary 27, 2017 at 4:15 AM

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

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  17. AlanaJanuary 27, 2017 at 5:14 AM

    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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  18. CloudiaJanuary 27, 2017 at 7:09 AM

    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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  19. Light and VoicesJanuary 27, 2017 at 7:31 AM

    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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  20. Photo CacheJanuary 27, 2017 at 9:04 AM

    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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  21. Jan K. alias AfanjaJanuary 27, 2017 at 10:56 AM

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

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  22. amo sin bloggJanuary 27, 2017 at 11:00 AM

    Absolutely beautiful pictures.
    You are a clever photographer.

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  23. AnonymousJanuary 27, 2017 at 11:12 AM

    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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  24. Sharon WagnerJanuary 27, 2017 at 1:04 PM

    Thanks for the reflective and alternative desert view!

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  25. HappyKJanuary 27, 2017 at 1:09 PM

    Oh wow all those pictures are so pretty. Breathtaking.

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  26. magiceyeJanuary 27, 2017 at 5:32 PM

    You have captured all the drama beautifully!

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  27. MelissaJanuary 27, 2017 at 5:35 PM

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

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  28. Yogi♪♪♪January 27, 2017 at 7:01 PM

    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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  29. desertsandbeyondJanuary 28, 2017 at 1:30 AM

    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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  30. thomasJanuary 28, 2017 at 4:04 AM

    Love the transformed desert after the rain

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  31. Lady FiJanuary 28, 2017 at 4:19 AM

    Wow - amazingly beautiful!

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  32. Minoru SaitoJanuary 28, 2017 at 4:26 AM

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

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  33. Minoru SaitoJanuary 28, 2017 at 4:27 AM

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

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  34. carol l mckennaJanuary 28, 2017 at 8:16 AM

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

    Wishing you a Happy Weekend ~ ^_^

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  35. Indah Nuria SavitriJanuary 28, 2017 at 9:24 AM

    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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  36. Cathy KennedyJanuary 28, 2017 at 1:56 PM

    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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  37. Nancy ChanJanuary 28, 2017 at 3:43 PM

    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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  38. Stewart MJanuary 28, 2017 at 10:57 PM

    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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  39. Kenneth Cole SchneiderJanuary 29, 2017 at 1:00 PM

    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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  40. AmyJanuary 29, 2017 at 2:46 PM

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

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  41. WayneJanuary 30, 2017 at 5:30 AM

    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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  42. LoisJanuary 30, 2017 at 7:45 AM

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

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  43. Sallie (FullTime-Life)January 30, 2017 at 4:48 PM

    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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  44. JeannaJanuary 30, 2017 at 10:31 PM

    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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  45. Photo(Geo)grapherFebruary 1, 2017 at 5:36 AM

    Fantstic pictures of beautiful nature. Excellent work.

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  46. Pat TillettFebruary 1, 2017 at 9:20 AM

    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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  47. LizFebruary 2, 2017 at 6:19 PM

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

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