NATIVE LANDS " When we retreat to nature, we return rejuvenated.

When we can escape the noise of the city and enter the quiet majesty of protected spaces, we have a great opportunity to experience the world without distractions. We can set aside any anxiety and fear of the future and simply be. Instead of taking a photo of a sunrise on our phones, we can exist within the present moment. We can feel the warmth, hope, joy, and gratitude. We can let everything else go and connect with where we are, and who we are with.

We chose to visit Joshua Tree, California, for this photoshoot not just because of its beauty, but because of its expanse. When we retreat to nature, we return rejuvenated. We escape a busy schedule by subtracting to feel more at peace. When we create space, we open the door to opportunity and growth. A pendulum can only swing forward by first being pulled backward.

There is something beautiful about a land that is seemingly harsh being a place where so many plants, animals, and cultures have thrived for thousands of years.

150 Average lifespan of a Joshua tree is around 150 years.

40

The tallest Joshua trees are 40+ feet high.

The first humans known to inhabit the Joshua Tree area were the Pinto, followed by the Serrano, the Chemehuevi, and the Cahuilla people.

The Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians is the current Native American tribe that resides in this area, and are descendants of the Chemehuevi. This tribe partners with others that promote land conservation and the protection of sacred lands, and also support descendants of the Chemehuevi, Desert Cahuilla, and Southern Paiute lineages in California and beyond.

Connecting with the land is meaningful and valuable. Just as relationships with people help us to learn and grow, our relationship with the land, plants, animals, and the world around us feeds and nurtures the soul.

Learn more about the native land, the people who live here, and Joshua Tree National Park: www.29palmstribe.org www.nps.gov/jotr