Cholla Cactus Golden Hour

As promised, this week I am featuring my second set of Cholla Cactus Garden images - and dare I say, these are even better! Every morning at Joshua Tree National Park, a warm golden light illuminates the spiny cacti, casting an incredible glow over the desert landscape. The scene is nothing short of mesmerizing, especially on a cold and perfectly clear day. I hope the images I have shared here succeed in capturing the magic of the desert in these early hours, and that you love them as much as I do!

Sunrise Over the Cholla Cacti

Nestled in the heart of Joshua Tree National Park lies the stunning Cholla Cactus Garden. This location is home to thousands of cholla cacti, which light up in brilliant shades of orange and gold during the sunrise hours. When I visited this desert oasis at dawn, and I was blown away by the natural beauty of this unique landscape.

As the sun began to peek over the horizon, the sky filled with vibrant hues of yellow, orange, and purple. The surrounding desert landscape was cast in an ethereal glow, and the cholla cacti seemed to come alive in the early morning light. The result was a series of stunning images that perfectly capture the otherworldly beauty of the desert at sunrise. In fact, I loved my images from this spot so much, I’ve split them into two posts - this is just the first half. Enjoy!

A Collection of Cacti

Joshua Tree National Park is home to a variety of cacti species, each with its distinct characteristics and beauty. The Mojave Desert, which covers much of the park, provides an ideal environment for these hardy plants to thrive.

Perhaps the best known amongst them are the various species of cholla. Cholla cacti, also known as the "jumping cacti”, have a unique method of reproduction, where they detach and roll around in the wind to spread their seeds. The cholla cactus may look harmless, but their spines can easily cling to clothing and skin, earning them their "jumping" nickname. Cholla are just one of several species featured here - which also includes prickypear and barrel cacti varieties.