Springtime in the Great Basin Desert!
Whether it is intense heat in the summer or frigid cold during the winter,
Nature in the desert is always being challenged to adapt to harsh conditions.
These challenges, when nature must adapt to survive, present fascinating photo
opportunities and are the reason that I am so drawn to the desert.
At rare times, Nature's tenacity is revealed when conditions come together at just the right time. The barren desert thrives and becomes a showcase of nature's bounty. Such were the conditions during the past winter of 2013 when areas within the Great Basin Desert received adequate moisture from rain or snow.
To the northwest of Walker Lake lies a sandy flat area facing east that is protected to the west by the Wassuk Range. Within this area of approximately one mile radius (1.609344 km) the desert was in bloom with a number of wildflowers and shrubs.
What first caught my eye were the patches of Desert Plume accenting the landscape and standing tall over the yellow blanket of Desert Dandelions.
The Desert Plume, Stanleya pinnata or Golden Prince's
Plume can grow up to 5 feet tall (153 cm) in the alkaline soil. The slender
wands of yellow hairy flowers attract bees and other pollen
gathers.
Brilliant Desert Dandelions were growing in batches through out the
region.
One of the plants edible by humans and often the first wildflower to
bloom, Desert Dandelions provide vital nourishment for bees coming through the
winter.
My timing for these wildflower photos was right on since the Spiny Hop Sage Grayia spinosa was in bloom throughout the desert.
The small shrub
of Spiny Hop Sage only shows its colorful fruit for a short duration in spring and then turns into
a woody gray thicket when the climate dries and begins to warm.
Even the
Burrobush Hymenoclea salsola or Cheesebush was showcasing its tiny white
flowers. Its common name Cheesebush is due to the pungent odor when the leaves
are crushed.
The broom like shrub of Mormon Tea was just beginning to show
buds. Mormon Tea gets its name from the early Mormon settlers who brewed a tea
from the stems and leaves. The tea was also used by Native Americans for
stomach disorders and made into poultices for burns or sores on the skin.
Many of the wildflower seeds are annuals or ephemerals like the Desert
pincushion. Their seeds lay dormant waiting for just the right amount of
moisture and sunlight. At which time they will spring to life thriving only for
a short period to be pollinated by bees, butterflies and hummingbirds before the
climate becomes too hot or dry.
Unlike annuals that last only for a season
desert plants that are considered perennials, as with the Tufted
Evening-primrose will re-bloom and come out of dormancy only when adequate water
becomes available.
A variety of other flowers and shrubs were just beginning
to bloom. It will be interesting to return in a few days and after the latest
rains to see what else is there, waiting for my camera.
What
an exciting and interesting photo-adventure this day has been. I love
it when I am drawn to an area and not knowing what to expect I get
treated to new experiences.
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Photography places me in the moment where I can share that moment in time. It becomes a life story as represented by my interaction with the scene. The happiness and beauty or the sorrow and strife; how I focus leaves a lasting impression that might touch the viewer on a spiritual level.
"Reflecting Nature's Artistry"
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