Something feels off this week if you step outside in the Coachella Valley. The light still has that low, golden, late-winter slant. The wildflowers are still blooming. And yet the thermometer is reading temperatures that wouldn’t be out of place in late June. This week, parts of the desert Southwest are expected to shatter records […]
Joshua Trees are Blooming Way Too Early and That’s a Problem
Something weird is happening in the Mojave Desert. Joshua trees are flowering in late October and November instead of their usual late February timing. It might sound like a minor scheduling hiccup, but for scientists studying these iconic plants, it’s raising some serious red flags. I took this photo of a blooming Joshua tree in […]
California Lawmakers Pass Historic Bill to Permanently Protect Climate-Threatened Western Joshua Tree
California lawmakers have passed a historic bill (Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act) to permanently protect the western Joshua tree, making it the first law in the state aimed at safeguarding a species threatened by climate change. The legislation, part of the state budget agreement, is expected to be signed by Governor Gavin Newsom and take […]
