Joshua, My Love

By Mary Evelyn Austin
Lancaster, CA

Color Photographs By Robert Pearce
Black & White Photographs By Walt Gentry
Palmdale, CA

First Printing 1965 Fifth Printing 1987

I became fascinated with Joshua trees the very first time I saw them in the spring of 1934. A bus trip took me through the Mojave Desert when they were in bloom and the guide's "patter" whetted my appetite for more information about them. After moving to Lancaster, California in 1937, I began searching everywhere for any information regarding them. I found only two line articles everywhere I turned. Since this is really a "do it yourself kit" of "here and there" type information gathered over these many, many years, it is impossible to give any one article credit for the information herein. All I can say is that whatever information came my way was devoured with delight! I hope this article will provide a comprehensive "thumbnail sketch" for you.

The Joshua trees are a member of the lily family, and are classified as Yucca brefolia. They are related to many familiar plants such as yucca, tulips, hyacinth, asparagus, and of course our ever lovin' garlic and onions! !

The wood fiber of the Joshua is classified as the Monocot, along with palms, bamboo, cane, etc. Their growing habit is very similar to many Palm trees, (with the exception of growth rate). Each year the Joshua trees put out a tiny amount of new leaves (spines) at the end of each branch and a few die back to resemble the shaggy profile of many Palms.

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Joshua, My Love