Desert Candle, Mojave Desert.
The Desert Candle has to be one of of the most unique wildflowers I have ever seen! When back lit, the hollow shaft of these giant flowers exhibits a wonderful glow, they are really impressive. I think they are fairly rare, I know I looked far and wide before finding a small patch in 2005, and its not like they are hard to miss!
Normally I love winter, but this year in Alaska we have had endless warm temperatures and rain – in the winter, rain is wasted precipitation in my opinion – it could be snow! So I guess this spring like weather has got me thinking of spring wildflowers!
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Ron,
I love this photo, very cool. What an awesome plant!
I’m stayin in the A-N-C until after the holidays. I had to be back here on the 18th anyway, so it didn’t make sense to do all that driving for a few days.
I thought you said winter wasn’t here yet.
Cheers
Carl
Thanks Carl!
Bummer your trip didn’t go through – I’m sure the winter weather will still be nice and mild out there in January
Hey, I love those candles, did you make them yourself or did you buy them? If you made them, I would love to know more.
Its a plant not an actual candle.
Did you photograph this in Alaska? I am looking to find some and hope to photograph them. I am in Texas.
Hi Kristen,
This was in the Mojove Desert in California. There are fairly rare, but that area has received a lot of rain, and this might be a good year to see them.
I live in the Mojave desert in southern California. We have recieved so much rain this year. I can tell you tho, these desert candles are not a Rare plant but you have to know where to look. Roadsides are popular places to see these magnificent plants. But unfortunatley we will have to wait until spring to see if any of these beauties will be blooming this march.
It should be a great year this year – in the parts of the Mojave I have driven so far, things are really green!
Nice shot. I was at the Desert Tortoise Natural Area in the Mojave last week and there were hundreds of desert candles on the dirt road leading up to the entrance. They are really amazing!
Hi Colin – wow, that must have been a real treat to see! I wish I could get over there for such a display. Thanks for sharing!
Ron
They grow in the field behind my house. They came up where someone had run a tractor through. I live in the mojave desert, in Red Mountain.
Hi Erma – that is a treat – I have rarely seen them.