A Thousand Palms

It is another perfect day to spend some time in the desert.

Just off of the Thousand Palms Road in north Coachella Valley there are a cluster of native palm groves. These palm groves have inhabited the valley for thousands of years. It is recorded that these palm groves and associated oasis assisted the Cahuilla Indians for the last 2000 years, long before the arrival and immegration of the white man.

We visited the Paul Wilhelm Grove and then walked to the McCallum Grove and oasis. You can see the McCallum Trail and grove here. The oasis has an active spring that fills this pond. Remember, this is the Colorado Desert!

These native Desert Fan Palms have not been shaved like their urban cousins. You can see that their full beards make them look quite different than those with only a bare trunk.