Death Valley usually is just rocks, soil, and barren land. After the gold-mining boom in the early 1900s, towns were left behind. You find many abandoned settlements in the area. The ghost towns, and sandstorms in the wide open space of the desert are perfect for my research, but this year I was aiming for something else - I wanted to see the extreme rare wildflower blossom.
Desert Sunflower blossom at Death Valley
Because of all the rainfall last winter, there were ideal conditions to kick-start life in the desert. You always find some flowers in Death Valley, but this year it is an exceptional big bloom. The Desert Sunflower blossom and its beauty will fade away as quickly as it came. In the desert the destroying forces are always present. It’s a battle of elements and a constant struggle for existence. Hot sun and dry winds will turn the yellow wildflower fields into a naked desert landscape again, but the vastness will remain like a window to eternity.