A Desert Park | Visiting | Activities | Nature | Culture | Education

Visiting the Nursery
The nursery at Joshua Tree National Park is full of baby plants. The park is growing these plants to put back in the desert.
Hi, my name is Ally. I’m studying about plants in the national park. You see a lot of cactus in the desert. If you touch them you will get spines in your hand.
Hi! My name is Joey. I am here to teach you more about the barrel cactus. You may or may not know that the barrel cactus stores water inside. This cactus is round, green, and the spines are red, violate, or yellow.
My name is Marissa. Creosote bushes are round and shruby. They can grow very tall. They make good homes for ground squirrels, kangaroo rats, lizards, snakes, and tortoises.
My name is Danielle and I’m going to tell you about the Joshua tree. I just learned that when the air is 80 degrees, inside the Joshua tree it’s only 60 degrees. The Joshua tree’s leaves fall and make shade for its roots. This keeps the water from evaporating from the tree. The Joshua tree is very tall so it makes shade for the little plants. If the little plants have water then the water will be cooler.
Move your mouse over the pictures below to learn the name of the plant.
Click on the tortoise to go to animal adaptations.

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