Part 2 - Coachella Valley Preserve

Wednesday Dec. 15th our small hiking group headed northwest to the Coachella Valley Preserve.  I remember reading that the oasis here was used for ranching and gardening.  In the Early years before irrigation this would be one of the places water could be found year round.  Their website under 'History' provides more photos: http://coachellavalleypreserve.org/

There is a small visitor center that has information about the history, flora and fauna.  They even have a collection of little and big insects pinned out on a board.  The preserve sits directly above the San Andreas Fault but I didn't feel the earth move the day we were there.  Someone told me that whenever you find palm trees growing naturally, they are probably on in a fault zone.

As you see from the photos that the presence of pools of water really are beautiful and miraculous in this harsh environment.

 These pools have small pup fish and crayfish.  We saw some traps in the water that were being used in a study of the pond life.

The palm trees have there fronds draped down as they die and only high winds seem to disturb them.  We saw evidence that animals crawl up inside these skirts and nest.  I always thought they were those neatly trimmed tall trees that you found a resorts.  There are many varieties.  I think this type here is a Californian Fan Palm.   

 

The two photos below are of Willis Palms.  The charred remains were of a fire about 3 weeks ago.  If you can imagine the intense heat given off by the burning palm fronds... the flames and smoke could be seen throughout the valley. 

The bottom photo is from last years hike into the Willis Palms.  If you look carefully you can see burn marks on the trees.  This grove looked like the same as above in 1983 when fire first struck.  So you are looking at a 27 years of growth.  Like our evergreen trees these larger trees will survive but the younger, shorter trees will die due to the intense heat.