On Saturday, my brother in law, Dr. Bill, and I had a beautiful hike through a canyon I refer to as Rattle Snake Arroyo.  There is an 80 ft waterfall about three miles up the canyon.  Along the way the usually brown and prickly desert was a garden of flowers and happy lizards.  The Barrel Cactus are shooting out blooms and the warm sun is wrapping its arms around the desert inhabitants. 

The green hills and gardens of flowers are just astonoshing here right now. As spring moves along, the bloom will move to the upper desert. Joshua Tree National Park should go off in mid April.  (4000 ft elevation)

As you move through the desert, the cactus bloom in different colors.  The barrel cactus bloom an antique orange near PS.  In Joshua Tree the cactus bloom red and fushia. At 5000 to 7000 ft in the Santa Rosa mountains the cactus bloom bright yellow.

Joshua Tree is one of my soul places.  Today I solo rock climbed up several routes in the late afternoon.  Normally ,  I will get my ya ya's out climbing and then set up my canvas and oil paints or watercolors and go to town for the remainder of the day.   My studio is outside, either on site or under a palm tree in the back yard. I love the energy of the natural environment.

I hope you all can take time to visit the desert soon. 

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