Consider the Ocotillo

 They often look like dry sticks coming out of the ground, just waiting for the next big wind to blow them over. You would swear they were dead.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

 

But give them some water, and magic happens. Just a single rain that soaks the ground is all it takes, and within a day or two small greenish leaves cover those dead-looking sticks. And shortly after that, you will see some unusual red flowers at the very end of the sticks (see photo below). Like I said, it's magic!

Photo credit: Pithandvigor.com

Ocotillo is described as a woody shrub that grows in the deserts of the southwestern US and northern Mexico. It's also know as candlewood, coachwhip, or vine cactus, although I've never heard anyone refer to Ocotillo by those names. Ocotillo means "little torch" in Spanish, which seems like a perfect description, given those bright red flowers at the end of the long branches. And a side note, the hummingbirds go crazy over those flowers!

 

Ocotillo can be up to 20' tall. This one we came across recently is a good, tall specimen. Mitch is about 6'2" or 6'3", and this one is at least 3 Mitch's in height!

 

Here are some Ocotillo showing off in the late afternoon light. They tend to grow in "clumps" or patches. You can hike for long distances without seeing any, and then come across a grouping like this. If you are ever in Joshua Tree National Park, keep an eye out for the "Ocotillo Patch" along Pinto Basin Road. It's the largest patch of Ocotillo in the Park.

 

So I found myself driving home through the Park after a long, exhausing hike recently. It was about 8pm, unusually warm for February, and a beautiful clear sky. My mind was wandering, thinking about possible places to stop along the road to get a picture of the desert stars (I had my tripod with me), but also thinking about how tired and hungry I was (I hadn't eaten since lunch). There was a chicken pot pie and a cold beer with my name on it. About this time I see the sign for the Ocotillo Patch turnout. Well, dinner would just have to wait!

Ocotillo under the stars!

As we get closer to Milky Way season, I think it would be fun to return and get a shot of the Milky Way over an Ocotillo. I'll put it on my to-do list!

 

Thanks for stopping by!!

Linking with Skywatch Friday.