A Fine Spring in JTNP

Last week, on the way home from the energy of Las Vegas, I decided to chill in the Cali desert for a few days.  I rented a house called Jackalope, about a dozen miles east of Twentynine Palms.  It was verrry quiet and peaceful, especially at dawn and dusk.  Here's the backyard.  Mellow and private.  The weather was very summery...high 80s in the afternoon, high 50s at dawn...very nice.  There was an aboveground pool that provided refreshing dips every afternoon after slogging around the desert all day.  The Lizards were right at home.

Looking west, the snowcapped San Gabriels rise between the desert and LA.  The house was not totally isolated, as you can see, but most  residences are on five acre plots, a legacy of land grants made to World War I veterans a century ago.   

Desert dandelions blooming in the Mojave.

Phacelias.

JTNP was carpeted in grass and flowers.  A refreshing sight after the long drought.

A desert Dandelion up close.

Desert as garden.

Chias were profuse in the lower elevations through the southeast part of JTNP.  

A vast poppy field near the south entrance to the park.

Poppies galore!

Dandelions nestling under gnarly branches, probably from a creosote bush.