A Flower in the Perfect Moment
Life in the desert — a photographic documentary
There is more behind the life of a single plant growing in the desert starting to bloom. It’s food not only for the wildlife looking for some lush green in the barren land but also for pollinators.
While rain most probably arrived a few days ago this seed exploded immediately. It started to grow and bloom within a short period. That’s how life in the desert works. It’s short-lived. But fully powered. It’s full of strength.
Looking at this deserted landscape you expect everything else but a blooming flower. This photograph taken during sunset shows the rocky landscape of a dried-out riverbed. A small part of the Namib desert. The oldest desert in the world.
Desert doesn’t mean there’s no life. Desert simply means life is a lot harder than in other areas. Desert means only the most creative, the most adapted, and the smartest plants and animals will survive.
Desert means survival of the fittest.
But desert also means beauty. The desert is filled with surprises. Hidden gems and little beauties if you keep your eyes open.
Like this flower. I almost missed it. It’s not like a blooming plant with green leaves can be camouflaged in the desert but it kind of was. My friend pointed it out to me. And only then I spotted this little beauty.
Sitting down next to this stunning flower I heard it immediately. The buzzing sound of bees and flies. Yes, one flower in the desert is enough to attract several insects.
And as I’m trying to take the perfect shot of this flower, one bee decides to feed on this blossom. It hovers around the long sensors of this yellow beauty. The pollen tubes are where it stops for a split second and starts the whole process.
The process of pollinating this plant and hopefully creating some seeds which will eventually turn into a new plant.
The circle of life.
I’m amazed by the amount of life to be found around this single plant. One single flower creating an ecosystem by itself.
This last shot taken of the flower and the bee in its best appearance happened to be a fortuity. I wasn’t meant to capture the insect with the flower. I was focusing on the yellow of this plant.
Only when I got home and copied the photographs over I had taken that day I found what really was captured at this moment. I was amazed. With myself. With the photograph.
The perfect shot.
Of a perfect moment.
“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” — Dr. Seuss
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Anne Bonfert is a traveler. Photographer. Writer. Teacher. Skydiving instructor. Adventure enthusiast. Nature lover. And fell in love with the African continent.
