Thursday, January 20, 2022

Willow Wash

 Not to be confused with Willow Hole Wash, willow wash is just our slang name for a wash that my friend Mitch likes to hike. I've never hiked it before, so join Mitch, Roger and I as we go explore this little slice of heaven in Joshua Tree National Park. 
 
Shortly after entering the wash, you see a large population of Desert Willow trees (hence our slang name).
When these bushy trees are in flower, they can be quite beautiful. The flowers remind me of jacaranda flowers, and they attract bees and hummingbirds. If they are dropping their leave (which turn orange), they can also be very photogenic. Otherwise, they provide welcome shade in a very arid environment.
 
Before reaching the wash, we come across a fairly large trash site full of old rusty cans. These are usually associated with mining activity, but we didn't see any signs of mining in the area. Perhaps this was the site of some old homesteader's cabin?
 
After a while, things get interesting. The steep rocky sides of the wash provide natural beauty, and following the wash requires some boulder hopping. The casual hiker would turn back here, but there's a lot more to see if you continue on!
 
Does anyone else see a face in profile?

Roger is watching me photograph Bladderpod flowers. This plant can flower all year long, and it's one of the few we saw in bloom on this hike. The bees and butterflies love it! Photo credit goes to Mitch.
 

 
Eventually we left the wash, and for most of the remainder of the hike, we had nice views north toward Joshua Tree and 29 Palms.
 
I'm pretty sure you can guess what this is. They're all over the desert now.
 
Do you see the house in the rocks? It sits just outside the park, with the park boundary as its back yard. One of the most architecturally interesting homes I've seen, and we had some nice views of it on this hike. It blends in beautifully!
 

This Mojave Yucca seems to be taking on an almost human shape!

A dead and hollowed-out Mojave Yucca (or perhaps one-eyed monster??!)

We finished up our hike pretty late (after sunset), so it allowed me to get some low-light shots of the surrounding mountains.
 
Linking with Skywatch Friday.
Thanks for stopping by. Stay safe and stay healthy!!

46 comments:

  1. I'm wondering how someone would reach this house - it's not exactly on a road. Like the yellow flowers.

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    1. Hi Carol. There is actually a road to the left of the house, an automatic gate, and a driveway that go right up to the property. I used a telephoto lens for the photo, so the rocks in the foreground block the view and make it appear as if you would need to climb over boulders to get to your house, but that's not the case. Thanks for your comment!

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  2. ...Willow Wash, it's difficult to imagine a wash through this area seeing it so dry now. Solar farms are springing up here in cloudy, snow country too. Thanks for sharing, take care.

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  3. In Holland we had a yucca in our living room, and it was not until we came to California, that I saw them in desert areas, and that they have beautiful blooms!
    Eh, one has to be blind not to see that face in profile:)And you guys even a butterfly, or is it a moth? It must be much warmer there, than her in Texas - near zero!

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  4. Dearest Peter,
    That was quite a beautiful hike.
    Surprising that the Desert Willow blooms that beautiful.
    The other blooms captured are also lovely.
    You are smart for wearing long pants, preventing your skin.
    My Pieter could no longer do this as he bleeds for the slightest scratch... due to his many blood thinners, so you have to be alert.
    Thanks again for sharing those stunning images and yes, I saw the face.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  5. Another great hike from you. You amaze me, boulder hopping with your camera. I find that extremely difficult.
    That house is so intriguing and unique.

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  6. I saw the face too. Here in Illinois it is 17 above zero so no blooms here, so, I really enjoyed seeing beautiful blooms in the desert. House is amazing! I too, was wondering how people who live there get their groceries, washer, refrigerator and SUV in there.

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  7. Jacaranda and Bladderpod flowers are so pretty! A face was the first thing I saw :) I know what they are, I've seen fields of them. I don't think I'd want to live where that house is, how in the world would you get to it? It us very different and I do like different. The Mojave Yucca looks like someone in a long wrap with a straw hat on. Great photos of the mountains!

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  8. I see the profile. : )
    It was a very pleasant hike, wasn't it? : )

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  9. Yup, no way I'd be trying to scurry over those boulders. No way, no how.

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  10. Wow, you found some intriguing sights! The rock does look like a profile, that house is amazing, and the Mojave yucca looks like a performer at Burning Man.

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  11. Thanks for letting me tag along. I suppose that the presence of the trees shows that there must be water below the surface even in this arid landscape. That house is truly amazing (though the garden looks like hard digging!).

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  12. Another delightful post--- I'm reminded of seeing Bob Hope's house on the hill when I was in Palm Springs-- Scary to think how many years ago THAT was! But that house you showed us is truly amazing. Sometimes people with money can create things that inspire.

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  13. Beautiful views, I see the face. That house is amazing, it blends in well with the landscape.
    Great collection of photos. Take care, enjoy your weekend!

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  14. The house is indeed amazing but it could also be a scale model because there is no comparison measure in that desert landscape. Very interesting.

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  15. Very interesting and beauty-filled walk. That house really looks weird but indeed fits the random arrangement of the rocky terrain.

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  16. Now I would not have though willows would grow in a desert like that. The rock photo looks like the head has its hand up as well

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  17. YES of course I saw the profile.. I love rocks and clouds. The shots are great as always and that home is AmAZING and fits in the area.
    been absent for awhile, but still enjoyed the views. Always great stuff. Actually better than American Geographic.
    Sherry & jack

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  18. One of the other bloggers I follow recently took a trip to your area and posted photos, and I was struck by the joy it must be to _live_ there so you can engage in more in-depth exploration.

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  19. Another fascinating post. I do see the profile in that rock and I see those solar farms every time I fly back and forth from Orange County. But, that house in the rocks takes the prize. What a spectacular place. It reminded me that I watched an episode of a Netflix show about the world's most interesting vacation rentals. They showed a place called "The Invisible House" that was perched somewhere in that area. The house was made completely of reflective glass and it sat between two hills of boulders like in your shot. The reflection of the boulders on all sides made the house almost disappear.

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    1. I've seen that place, Sharon! It's very cool, and exactly as you describe.

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  20. Great photos! Yeah, it's a head in #4 and you met bizarre creatures...
    Greetings from Germany

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  21. Wonderful series of photos with face in the rock, face in the plant and what a house ` how was it ever built in that location? Xo

    Wishing you lots of loving moments,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  22. I can see the face.
    I like a lot of these photos. There are many interesting details (other face etc.)

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  23. I could see that stone face and th yucca plant reminds me of "Cousin It" from the old Adams family TV show. I'm glad those solar panels are bringing energy in a non polluting way using the plentiful sunshine in your area. That house is amazing --I would love to see ta interior!

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  24. The first two photos showed up but the others are missing.

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  25. They all loaded now. Amazing profile in the rock and the house is incredible. What a wonderful place for someone to call it home. Thanks for taking us on another fantastic hike. Enjoy your weekend and stay safe and healthy too.

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  26. The house - wow! The small butterfly on the bladderpod flower, the man in the rock (yes, I saw it), the purple mountain in the next to last picture. Such enjoyable pictures. Thank you again for taking us along with you! (And I'm happy you are hiking with companions).

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  27. Fascinating images. That house, although very interesting does not look real comfy and home like to me.

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  28. That rock face is so cool. And the house. Wow!

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  29. Las piedras de la fotografía número 4, de esa gran elevación, parece que compone un rostro puesto de perfil. también me parece muy interesante la vegetación.

    Que tengas nu feliz de semana.

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  30. Another great place to explore. Yes, I can see a face in the profile. Thanks for the interesting photos.

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  31. Great post. All kinds of questions concerning the house

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  32. Great photos, looks like you had a great day there. Cool with the "face" on that big rock.

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  33. Thank you for reminding me how beautiful it is in the desert. Yes, I saw the face in that photo. I also saw a large hand with a finger requesting that we follow. I love the walks you take, showing me sights I know I won't see in this lifetime.

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  34. I do see the profile and the yucca medicine man. thank you again for sharing these wonders so different from my own.

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  35. Yes I do see the face in the rock... including the wrinkles.

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  36. Always amazing how nature makes it in such climate.
    That´s a lot of cans.
    Oh! You found a man and some... alien there!
    Really interesting house there - I´d like to see the inside...

    Uh! Another man! And one screaming, nature is wild :-)

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  37. That house is so intriguing. From a distance it really whets curious it’s about it’s interior. What a view they must have! I love the face in the yucca. It would be a nice garden sculpture.

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  38. Yes!! I saw the rock profile right away and was relieved when you asked - (kept me from thinking i was crazy, ya know . . 🙂) - There was a time i would have thought that house was way futuristic . . . seems "the future" has caught up to me - so, I'm taking your idea of 'blending beautifully' - and going with it.

    Thank you for all you do. Especially Thank You for sharing with us/me.
    love & love,
    -g-

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  39. I'm amazed about that house and kind of ashamed of myself that it is the first thing I wished I knew more about in this beautiful post. Wonderful hike and as an even less-than-casual-hiker these days, I appreciate so much your sharing places I'll never get to go. Loved the flowering plants (so wonderful to see on the desert), the rocks, all of it, it all and I definitely saw a profile in that one picture.....

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  40. Gorgeous pictures!

    What is that in image #9? Looks like some top-secret facility in the middle of nowhere

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    1. Those are solar panels. They are popular in the desert, but not without their controversy.

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