Showing posts with label Palm Springs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Palm Springs. Show all posts

1/27/13

Palm Springs

We had a fine time in the desert where, improbably, it was raining.

IMG_0353

That's the big Marilyn statue on Palm Canyon Drive, as seen from the car.

Downtown Palm Springs has its charms, but we come for a different set of charms.

IMG_0180

When did Coachella Valley burn? Couldn't have been too long ago.

IMG_0178

IMG_0204

IMG_0206

I rather like the visual effect on the landscape. At least for picture taking. The feeling is different if you live here, I suppose.

IMG_0188

Does any of this look familiar?

IMG_0192

I'm fairly certain I commented on this exact ocotillo the last time I was here, just about 2 years ago.

IMG_0194

It was sunny and warm, with blue skies then. This time was as if Mother Nature had trans-located San Francisco's moody coastal weather to Palm Springs. Wet, foggy, not exactly cold, but definitely not warm. That's okay. It was a thrill to see the desert in the rain. The ducks in the oasis had no complaints.

IMG_0210

Besides. California's natural history is all about rain after fire.

IMG_0218

IMG_0229


IMG_0232


IMG_0233

IMG_0255

IMG_0261

IMG_0279

IMG_0290

IMG_0292

IMG_0295

IMG_0300

IMG_0303

IMG_0305

IMG_0317

IMG_0323

IMG_0328

IMG_0330

10/18/10

Palm Springs, Part 2: Moorten Botanical Garden

This thrilling, old garden (est. 1938) exudes heart and soul: a family operation with hand-painted signs, well-aged, arborescent plant specimens, antique gold mining artifacts, collectible rocks and unusual pieces of old wood, a nursery with plants for sale, and a cute family of desert tortoises--all for a mere $3. It's suddenly one of my favorite gardens anywhere.

The Moorten Botanical Garden was closed the last time we came to Palm Springs so I was especially glad to see it this time. I don't see any information online about how large it is--an acre or two? I walked through the whole garden twice and took 352 pictures. It's at the very top of my list of things to see and do in Palm Springs. If you're a garden-lover you must come here; the rest of the town's gardening is a horticultural war crime.

IMG_0148

IMG_0064

IMG_0056

IMG_0051

IMG_0053

IMG_0049

IMG_0050

IMG_0215

IMG_0169

IMG_0232

IMG_0121

IMG_0178

IMG_0196

IMG_0195

IMG_0238

IMG_0235

IMG_0186

IMG_0006

IMG_0141

IMG_0117

IMG_0071

IMG_0152

Stapeliads as ground cover!

IMG_0239

Note pollinator.

IMG_0153

IMG_0197

IMG_0199

Welcome to the Cactarium.

IMG_0120

IMG_0073

IMG_0040

IMG_0074

Welwitschia mirabilis, one of planet Earth's more unusual plants.

IMG_0076

They have two of them.

IMG_0075

IMG_0077

IMG_0079

IMG_0081

IMG_0084

IMG_0087

IMG_0089

IMG_0090

IMG_0088

IMG_0094

IMG_0095

IMG_0096

Amazing.

IMG_0107

IMG_0110

IMG_0111

IMG_0113

IMG_0127

IMG_0135

IMG_0133

IMG_0172

IMG_0025

IMG_0028

For sale!

IMG_0242