When you travel the beautiful and stunning realm of southern Utah, one of the common sites you see is the Utah Juniper. You see them in many shapes and sizes…and in the national parks and monuments that inhabit the area, they make wonderful foreground subjects for the breathtaking rock formations. You have probably already seen some in some of the photos I have shown you in my blogs from The Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.
But what makes them so amazing, at least for me, is how they survive in such a harsh, barren environment. It is the classic desert tree that has adapted to where it lives. Its twisting, often-dead branches epitomize the struggle of life with little water. When moisture is scarce, a juniper will actually stop the flow of fluids to some outer branches so that the tree has a better chance for survival. Scale-covered leaves and bluish, waxy-coated seeds also help the tree conserve moisture.
In other words, it kills parts of itself off so that other parts may survive. You can see a perfect example of this in picture #1, taken at the Needles in the Canyonlands National Park. Picture #2 shows several Utah Junipers in front of two alcoves in the Arches National Park.
So, if you are ever in this part of the country, look for them and use them in you photographs…and appreciate how they live and survive in the harsh desert conditions.
1 comment:
If your admirers want to improve their own photography, can't learn from you personally, Moab does have annual symposiums and workshops going on to teach and inspire photography.
Love your postcards.
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