We can't seem to make it across the country without going to Joshua Tree N.P. This year was no different. We like to hang out in Jumbo Rocks campground, surrounded by (what else) jumbo rocks. The park is about 50 miles from Palm Springs, but is at 4200 feet elevation. 
There are cute squirrels, pretty birds, hoppy bunnies and skulking coyotes here. Last year we saw two badgers -- bad looking fellas! 
There are usually a bunch of rock-climbers going up the gigantic rocks and rock ridges -- often over 100 feet high. Not for us, but fun to watch.
This year we toured Key's Ranch. 
A genuine character, Bill Keys worked a couple of ranches on what would later become park property, for over 60 years.
He was a cattleman, a farmer, a miner, a land developer, a dude-ranch operator, a killer (just once), a prison inmate (see previous vocation), a store operator, a movie actor, and the ultimate survivor.
When water couldn't be found, he built a dam and captured the runoff from the rains.
When the earthen dam broke and ruined his gardens and much of his grazing land, he rebuilt the dam using concrete. Hand mixed -- no ready-mix in those days. He drilled and split rocks to make walls.
When other folks gave up on desert ranching and left, Bill "cleaned up" after them, hauling anything he could move to his ranch. He had acres of organized "stuff" --- electrical, plumbing, automotive, mining, metal, lumber -- you name it; Bill had it. And his kids organized it. Bolts separate from screws. Spark plugs separate from carburetors, sheet metal separate from structural steel. 
Bill, his wife and two of his children are buried on the property.
Coming through the park this year we were treated to desert blooms. Some of them barely visible. See the toe of my shoe in a couple of the photos? Had to be real careful not to crush them!
And always in Joshua Tree Park, thousands of Joshua trees. Growing in a multiple of weird shapes, this year they were all in bloom, which we thought added some grace even if the tree shapes were funky.
