During a road trip through California, I visited the Joshua Tree National Park in May 2015.

This hot, calm, dusty and massive place lies between the Mojave and the Colorado desert. It features impressive rock formations (see the “Skull Rock” shot below) and — of course — the park’s namesake: the Joshua tree. Instances of this twisted and spiky tree are spread all around the park and form fascinating photo subjects!

Moreover, there is a cactus garden with numerous variants of the “Teddy Bear” cholla cactus.