The last stop on our February 2015 visit to Joshua Tree National Park was suggested by a park ranger. He had noticed that a few of the Joshua trees near Keys View had started to bloom. The trees don't bloom every year, but only after a winter freeze and when the rainfall has been timely. We were fortunate to be able to see this phenomena. While once considered a member of the lily family, Joshua trees are now considered a type of yucca (yucca brevifolia). Although accurately determining the age of the plants is difficult because the fibrous trunk does not have growth rings, experts say mature specimens are probably a few hundred years old to possibly 1,000 years old.
An entrance fee of $15 admits all the passengers of a single vehicle for seven days. Other options include an annual Joshua Tree National Park Pass for $30, an Interagency Annual Pass for $80 and a lifetime Interagency Senior Pass for those age 62 and older for $10.
The park website is http://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm.
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