I was very excited, as this would be our first encounter with habitat cacti. (as enthusiasts) It was great to be out there in the middle of essentially nowhere, yet still only 30 miles from home. Funny how that works.
The chollas were everywhere!! big ones, small ones, short ones, tall ones...it was great. And of course, the Yuccas were awesome, all standing proud for as far as the eye could see. Some as tall as 25 feet and 100+ branches and heads
![Shocked :shock:](./images/smilies/icon_eek.gif)
So as usual, i snapped a bunch of pics. I was also proud of myself for IDing them correctly too
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
![Neutral :|](./images/smilies/icon_neutral.gif)
Daiv, feel free to use these for the site if needed. The locality these were taken: Highway CA-138 south of the town of Littlerock, which i beleive is part of the San Bernardino National Forest area. About 10-12 miles north of I-15.
hope you enjoy!
Cylindropuntia echinocarpa
Silver Cholla
These where so awesome. The time of day was perfect, the sun was getting low and as you looked out across the plain, all the cholla's would glow golden and became pretty easy to spot.
![Image](http://www.imazda.com/mazdaracer/Gardens/habitat/cholla/small/1.jpg)
![Image](http://www.imazda.com/mazdaracer/Gardens/habitat/cholla/small/2.jpg)
![Image](http://www.imazda.com/mazdaracer/Gardens/habitat/cholla/small/3.jpg)
![Image](http://www.imazda.com/mazdaracer/Gardens/habitat/cholla/small/4.jpg)
Yucca brevifolia
Joshua Tree
These are pretty common and there are thousands upon thousands of them growing as far as you can see. A Yucca desert forest for sure. Really cool plants.
![Image](http://www.imazda.com/mazdaracer/Gardens/habitat/cholla/small/5.jpg)
![Image](http://www.imazda.com/mazdaracer/Gardens/habitat/cholla/small/6.jpg)
![Image](http://www.imazda.com/mazdaracer/Gardens/habitat/cholla/small/13.jpg)
I was purposely looking for just this kinda thing, small little guys just starting out. I looked in every tuft and then found this one
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
![Image](http://www.imazda.com/mazdaracer/Gardens/habitat/cholla/small/7.jpg)
![Image](http://www.imazda.com/mazdaracer/Gardens/habitat/cholla/small/8.jpg)
This one has seen better days...
![Image](http://www.imazda.com/mazdaracer/Gardens/habitat/cholla/small/10.jpg)
![Image](http://www.imazda.com/mazdaracer/Gardens/habitat/cholla/small/9.jpg)
This one had a nest in it. Gotta be a brave bird or whatever to build a home in a cholla!
![Image](http://www.imazda.com/mazdaracer/Gardens/habitat/cholla/small/11.jpg)
![Image](http://www.imazda.com/mazdaracer/Gardens/habitat/cholla/small/12.jpg)
Here's bit of a panoramic view.
![Image](http://www.imazda.com/mazdaracer/Gardens/habitat/cholla/small/15pan.jpg)
![Image](http://www.imazda.com/mazdaracer/Gardens/habitat/cholla/small/14pan.jpg)
![Image](http://www.imazda.com/mazdaracer/Gardens/habitat/cholla/small/16.jpg)