Piles of boulders in Joshua Tree look as if they were tossed about by a giant, while the trees remind you of illustrations in a Dr. Seuss book. Photo by R. Wayne.

Joshua Tree reveals surreal world

Joshua Tree National Park

First you notice the “trees” for which the park is named: wildly angular and seriously asymmetrical branches with spiny leaves. They’re surreal and cartoon-like, and aptly compared to Dr. Seuss illustrations. And they’re not actually trees, but a species of the yucca not found in too many places.