Silent Beauty

I paid my annual visit to Death Valley this weekend.  It's like visiting an old friend now...  How have you been?  Is everything alright?  What's new?

To my surprise, after so many visits, for the first time, I saw wildflowers in Death Valley!!  It was the "desert bloom" -- thank goodness to the flash flood in Death Valley last October and the continued precipitation throughout November and December.

I was so happy to see these little guys -- making every effort to survive the harsh landscape and weather conditions.  They are mostly yellow -- very small, but everywhere.  When you drive up and down through northern California in February, you'd see similar yellow flowers covering the rolling hills.  They are beautiful; but they are the "in-your-face" kind of bright yellow, very dense, loudly screaming to the world "Look at me!!"

No, not in Death Valley.  The little yellow flowers here have the soft and quiet beauty.  They are charming but unassuming, just standing there silently...  And yet, everyone noticed them -- so many cars stopped for them, took photos of them...  I've made a clear mental note for myself -- Death Valley can be a very lively and colorful place!!!

I love every single one of you, however small you are!

Death Valley, California

February 27-28, 2016