This year has been a banner year to view the Joshua in bloom as the moisture content was perfect and large blooms are now present in most of the Mojave Desert that we have visited. The Joshua Tree has bell-shaped blooms, 1.25 to 1.5 inches large, each with 6 creamy, yellow-green sepals, crowded into 12 to 18 inch, many-branched clusters with an unpleasant odor. The trees bloom mostly in the spring, although not all of them will flower annually. Joshua Trees (and most other yuccas) rely on the female Pronuba Moth for pollination. No other insect or animal visiting the blooms transfers the pollen from one flower to another. In fact, the female Yucca Moth has evolved special organs to collect and distribute the pollen onto the surface of the flower. She lays her eggs in the flowers' ovaries, and when the larvae hatch, they feed on the yucca seeds. Without the moth's pollination, the Joshua Tree could not reproduce, nor could the moth, whose larvae would have no seeds to eat. Although an old Joshua Trees can sprout new plants from its roots, only the seeds produced in pollinated flowers can scatter far enough to establish a new stand. The fruit is elliptical and green-brown and can be seen in photo 4, a photo taken at night to better show the fruit. Six-celled, 2.5 to 4 inches, and somewhat fleshy, it dries and falls soon after maturity in late spring revealing many flat seeds. The last photo is of the Joshua and Yucca plants before bloom.

[OrchidJulie]

Thanks for sharing, Bob, both the great images and the lesson! Most interesting!

[Bob Harris]

Very cool Bob...imaging that, furry trees have flowers... who knew?

That sounds like it could come out of a storybook Norm.

[Bob Harris]

always appreciate being able to see something new .... have seen these trees in pics before, but never in bloom..
superb captures bob.... dave m

thanks Dave, conditions have to be just right for these to bloom each year.

[Bob Harris]

Beautiful shots Bob. I'm very familiar with the Joshua Tree, but rarely see them in bloom like this. Enjoy your visit to the desert!

Paul, I would guess you visited Joshua Tree NP while you lived here, I'm not sure if that area is in bloom or not. We will be out of the desert during the summer while visiting family in Colorado and then up to South Dakota to renew drivers licenses.

[Bob Harris]

Beautiful Bob and thanks for the knowledge transfer !

thanks buddy and you have got to stop calling me Beautiful Bob

[Bob Harris]

Great shots & good to see - thanks - J

Glad you enjoyed the view J, always appreciated.

[slowpez]

Bob, thanks so much for posting these. The first shot is really outstanding. As you know, we would love to make it out there at this time of year to see them in bloom but you are a close second. OK, maybe not that close but you will have to do. Looks like we aren't going to make it west this summer either. The repair facility we take our 5er to dropped it on the truck. He is blaming Reese and Reese is blaming anyone but them. They were driving the unit but looks like our insurance is going to get stuck paying anyway. Feel like we will be cooped up at home forever so send me some more cactus images to cheer me up.

[Bob Harris]

Thank you for teaching me something new today.

thanks for viewing and glad you enjoyed the thread. Bob

[Bob Harris]

Very nice images Bob and thanks for the lesson. I now know something that I didn't know when I got up this morning.

Thanks Heinrich, glad I enriched your mind a bit. A bit different landscape than you have up North.

[Bob Harris]

Great series Bob, I like the night shot as it brings a different dimension the Joshua tree blooms. I have not seen any in bloom in my section of the high desert, no moisture this past winter. Gotta have water, rain or snow, for them to bloom. TFS Cliff

I'm so surprised to read this Cliff, the entire Victor Valley is in bloom as is the Pahrump Valley in Nevada. I remember years in the Mojave Desert when we didn't even get an inch of rain, lets hope next year is your time to shine.

[Bob Harris]

lots of detail in these shots and the commentary, I think the first shot is outstanding and shows the rugged beauty in these plants, TFS
cheers

CC, the Mormon pioneers are said to have named this species "Joshua" Tree because it mimicked the Old Testament prophet Joshua waving them, with upraised arms, on toward the promised land. I thought that was interesting also. Bob

[Bob Harris]

Nice photos Bob and very informative, I'm thinking you missed your calling and should have been a teacher......... Bas

Bas, I've been told I had a calling for many things, but the only calling I want to have now is when Terri calls me in for dinner.

[Bob Harris]

Nice Bob. That last one is a very good example of Joshua Tree National Park landscape. This seldom visited park (considering it's only 2-3 hours away from two major cities) is a real treasure.

I like that photo also Jerry, it shows the diversified plantlife living in one small area with a jumbo rock thrown in too.

[Bob Harris]

Those are the best shots of Joshua trees that I have ever seen. Thanks, Bob.

thanks so much for the kind words Ray, being in bloom like they are really brings out the beauty of them.

[Bob Harris]

Thanks for sharing, Bob, both the great images and the lesson! Most interesting!

glad you enjoyed the view and narrative Julie, spring is the perfect time to visit our desert.