Ocotillo are interesting desert plants that become quite beautiful after significant rainfall. They can grow up to 10 m high and this one must have been close to that height. The flowers are edible and can be used in salads, but to me, that seems like too much work to harvest them. I'd rather have a hamburger, anyway.

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Tags:   Desert Ocotillo Desert coral Coachwhip Vine cactus Jacob's staff Fouquieria splendens Joshua Tree National Park California HMB!

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Tags:   Sunrise Dawn Cholla Cactus Jumping Cholla Teddy-bear Cholla Cylindropuntia bigelovii Cholla Garden Joshua Tree National Park California HDR 3xp TheUnforgettablePictures

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To answer Mimi's question, below, check out this site.

Tags:   Evening Dusk Barker Dam Joshua Tree National Park California AbsolutelyStunningScapes ABigFave

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This Beavertail was across the road from the Cactus Garden, where there were just as many or more Cholla, but there weren't any trails that were kept clean of fallen cactus, so I, once again, was gentlemanly and let others shoot before me. Later, when several of us were making fun of James Neeley for picking up a brand in his shoe, Ireena backed into another one, which I quickly (for some things, I want to be first) volunteered to remove. I always carry a small multitool with me for just that purpose. :-) During the process, I proceeded to pick up two in my own boot. We were like a bunch of Keystone Cops.

The light was quite harsh when we shot these, so we used a diffuser to soften the light and a reflector to fill in the shadows in the lower left quadrant. I'm really pleased with the results.

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Tags:   Beavertail Cactus Opuntia basilaris Cholla Cactus Garden Joshua Tree National Park California NaturesFinest

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There must be something wrong with my camera. There can't be that many stars in the sky.

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Tags:   Light painting Joshua Tree Joshua Tree National Park California

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