There are no palms like these anywhere in the world; they are unique to Borrego Springs. They are living ruminants of prehistoric period when the basin of the Borrego desert was filled with sea. The grove is nestled in the foothills next to an ancient spring. The hike there is through blistering heat and a dry river bed. As you climb higher there are trickles of water, then a small creek, and then pools of water underneath the shade of these thick palms. The contrast between the shade and the glaring light and heat is extreme. There are many possible techniques in Plein Air painting. Here I used a dark ground first and then build up the light with thicker and thicker applications of light paint.