Desert images

For our last day in Palm Desert, we decided to return to two favourite spots for desert walks. We started at a preserve south of the city where we ate our lunch on the patio and did some bird watching - a steady stream of hummingbirds and some cactus wrens hung out in the bushes and trees in front of us.
I love the subtle colours of the desert. The smoke tree on the right looks like its name. The palo verde on the left is the tree of choice in shopping centres and boulevards, and in town where water is more plentiful, is bright green (bark included) and covered with yellow flowers. Here in the wild, the colour is fading and I imagine will turn pretty grey with the heat that is coming.

After lunch, we returned to the Coachella Valley Preserve north of Palm Desert to walk the trail to the oasis again. There was still a strong wind but it was a much cooler day - high 60's - so seemed a good day to walk in the desert. We hoped to see some more fringed lizards and desert rabbits but soon found that it was much too cool for them - not a living thing in sight. We enjoyed the walk although the wind was really strong and actually cool walking out - much better returning.

It is an eery feeling walking on the San Andreas fault line like this - you can't help but think about just where you'd take cover if the big one starts....

I didn't make it to this beautiful oasis the first time - was glad we came back today to see it.

It was cool enough to wear jackets - but perfect for walking.