A distinctive desert feature offers shade and food and building materials. Ranger Pat Pilcher recounts the legend of the fan palm…
The California Fan Palm is a familiar sight at Joshua Tree National Park. This palm, the only native palm in California, grows at five different sites in the Park. A Cahuilla legend tells about the creation of the first palm tree: “Long, long ago there was an elder of a tribe who loved his people. He knew that his time was ending, and this saddened him, for he enjoyed providing for his people. One day he said, ‘I will always provide for you.’ Then he stood very still. Slowly, his body turned into the trunk of a tree and out of his head grew the fronds of the palm. From the fronds, his people thatched their dwellings while the fruit provided a sweet food. So, as the legend goes, he provided well for his people. For more information contact the Visitor Center at 760 367-5500. For Z107.7, this is Park Ranger Pat Pilcher inviting you to celebrate 75 years of inspiration at Joshua Tree National Park.
