PHOTOGRAPHY

When Flowers Bloom in the Desert

The beauty of desert lilies

I’ve seen them in three different places during my last road trip. Desert lilies. I haven’t seen them before. Ever. And I’ve lived for almost six years in the desert. Traveling and exploring the country a lot.

Yet this natural wonder had been withholding for me. Until now. Until it rained in the desert. A lot. Well, relatively a lot. If you’ve been in a drought for almost ten years, every drop of water counts.

And every drop of water changes the landscape. That is the most fascinating feature of the desert. For me. How she transforms. After some rain. How the desert starts to wake up. Thrive. And bloom.

But look at these photographs yourself. Have you ever seen something so beautiful?

Fish River Canyon

It looked like snow. From afar. Driving along the winding road to the world-famous Fish River Canyon I saw a layer of white on the landscape. Just a gentle touch. But it was clear.

It’s flowers. All of them. Fields of flowers. Creating this lovely art in the scenery. Only once we stopped I could see what they were. And how they looked.

And only after I researched them I knew what they were. Desert lilies. Such a gentle name for a fine creation of nature. So much power it. Because of the word “desert”. Any living object connected to the desert is powerful.

A survivor. Because it’s patient. While waiting for the rain. It’s effective. In spreading seeds. And thriving only when the conditions are perfect.

And these desert lilies grow in the harshest conditions thinkable. The area around the Fish River Canyon is made of rocky terrain. Nothing but small pebbles covering the soil.

And now green plants sprouting out of it. Plants that start to bloom in full glory.

NamibRand Nature Reserve

After this experience in the canyon, we spent a week down at the Orange River. Playing in the water. Back in the desert again I just stuck my face out of the window looking for these beauties.

And I shouldn’t be disappointed. The NamibRand Nature Reserve is stunning as it is. But now even more. With all the green. And all the wildlife. Springboks, Oryx antelopes, and zebras crossing the plains.

And then I see the white layer again. A touch of white on the red sand of the Namib desert. A gentle green pushing through as well. The leaves of the desert lilies are coming out nicely in this constellation.

From close and far. They look breathtaking either way. Coming for a close-up shot I get to see their fine lines. The full grace of this unique flower. A flower that covers the landscape up to the dunes. Over here. Right now.

On both sides of the road. The desert lilies. All the way to the dunes on one side. And all the way to the mountains on the other side. Nothing but desert lilies. No other plant. No bushes. No trees.

Only these flowers.

Namib-Naukluft National Park

On the way to Sossusvlei, we were passing the next field. While looking for the water. The lake in the desert everyone was talking about. I saw the flowers flying past my window.

I didn’t ask to stop. I still wanted to see the other natural wonder. The lake in the depth of the desert. Surrounded by sand dunes. But that is going to be another article.

On the way back I got out. I got out of the car in front of these Oryx antelopes. They were grazing. Tiny bundles of grass were covering the desert soil. But the Oryx didn’t even lift their head. So peaceful they were. Not getting disturbed by anyone.

I got out of the car walking across the plain. Towards the flower. The desert lilies weren’t in such massive numbers as in the other places. But they were here. In full bloom. Allowing me to take a picture with them in focus and the antelopes in the background. Together with the red dune.

Photography as the key to happiness

My partner was talking about it. The creative eye. How I see so much more in this landscape than he does. I describe different shades of green. Flowers at various locations. And all he sees is a landscape that is turning green.

He loves it too. But I get the excitement. More than him. Because I’m looking at it with a creative eye. I’m looking at the beauty through the lens of my camera. I’m happy because of what I get to capture.

Taking photographs of these special natural wonders just makes me happy. Capturing the beauty of this moment just to be able to show it to those who aren’t as fortunate to experience this.

Nature photography is my key to happiness.

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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.