Joshua Tree Sojourn: Part Three
The oasis. What a symbol of relief and a harbinger of survival! As my boots trod the desert path, kicking dust and sliding on miniscule rocks, I could not help but ponder the concept of where I was heading. Lost Palms Oasis is the largest oasis in Joshua Tree National Park, and has the largest stand of Fan Palms in North America.
Before cars, radios, television. When the mule ruled. When buzzards flying overhead were not just vultures but something to be feared for their potential. Those who crossed these desert hills in search of lord only knows what must have been beyond ecstatic to find an oasis like Lost Palms. Running water!
Back to the future, there I was, standing on a rocky precipice looking down at the several hundred yard gully stuffed with as many Desert Fan Palms as imaginable in such a narrow stretch. These hardy trees define an ecosystem. They demarcate the line between life and death. Between water and dry. Between dry and dust.
All of the many creatures of the desert flock to these oases at one time or another for survival. They are spread apart by many miles, which only reinforces just how robust the life must be to make it in this intriguing biome. In all of North America, according to the Joshua Tree Guide, there are only 158 of these desert palm oases. Five are within the Joshua Tree National Park lines.
While standing at the base of this amazing collection of wizened veterans of the arboreal variety I noticed something right away. There was a noticeable change in the density of life. Out there on the lonely, dusty trails zig zagging through cacti clusters and ridge lines one gets the feeling like there may not be another creature around for miles. The Jackrabbits at dusk will tell you otherwise, but here, under the shade of the Palms, there is almost a frenzy of life activity compared to your average square yard of Joshua Tree earth.
Some locust species was buzzing all about, creating a percussive symphony as they beat down upon the fronds while jumping to and fro. This brought the hungry birds swooping down for mouthfuls of insect protein. Although we did not see them, the Bighorn desert sheep came for a drink at the first drops of sunlight across the frying pan of dirt and rock that is Joshua Tree.
Washingtonia filifera is native to these southern California desert lowlands, and they can live almost as long as a century, lifting their rough fronds almost seventy-five feet into the sky. These prehistoric behemoths of the tree family can weigh as much as three tons! Three tons! Part of their immaculate design is for the species to thrive in fires, adults are rarely harmed by fire, and it removes competitors and allows space for seed germination for the Palms.
The Cahuillas were a tribe that lived in harmonic union with their surroundings here in the deserts that included the current park border lines. Providing an example of the level of understanding that our native American population had with the natural world is the fact that they used to set fire to their oases. This was with the full confidence that this would strengthen the Palm community which was an irreplaceable resource in their lives.
ER Harris
Source: The Joshua Tree Guide
~admin
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said on
spent some time at Joshua Tree
it was a profound place
you have captured its essence
Great story. Also, a nice book for you: China’s global reach: markets, multinationals, and globalization by george zhibin gu. Hope when you travel to asia, bring back some equally exciting stories.
your articles invoke the spirit of the place
I like that you add links to further read about the environment you are describing
How wonderful for that are you still able to hike in this delicate eco-system which hangs to a vestige of its former promenance for the native peoples of that area which stretches down into Baja. I have seen two of these same kind of osasis in Baja, out from the Sea of Cortez west about 15 rocky miles from Highway 1. Coming upon them is a mystical experience. The feeling taking time to meditate by the clear shallow water in the shade of one of these palms, I was overcome with a feeling of “peyote” like oneness with all things.
I just wonder how long these seemingly solitary places will remain with the heating of the earth and the immense changes to our world already underway. I am sure had we visited these places a decade ago they would have been different, probably more lush, the water clearer.
It is time for everyone to wake up to the threat of incalcuable changes to or mother’s health…not a part of a natural cycle, but the success of modern civilization in overpowering all of nature with its toxins. And the most potent poison of all is the minds of those in power who refuse to see this as a worldwide threat and an opportunity to listen to the wisdom peoples of the Americas, Africa and those of southern archapelegos, Australia and New Zealand (who are most effected at this time). What an opportunity for a new One World cooperation. Instead the bloody hands of war makers turn or seas red with deadly dinoflagelates.
Latif The Poet
Beautiful writing
great article
looking forward to more adventures
Missing your articles
Mana
new Adventures coming?
Waiting for more adventures from you
waiting for more adventures from you
New Articles coming?
Its been silent from you for a long while
hope you will be writing again soon
your fans mis you
really good to read your articles again
gc
It’s not just there that these things happen..Unfortunately, all over the world we see how civilization is taking over nature in the most brutal and careless manner, as if people are forgetting about their origins. And where it’s not civilization’s fault, it’s man’s fault for not know how to preserve the wonderful surroundings he’s living in.