Death Valley ~ Sparse 2013 winter rains even for Death Valley, but a few hardy flowers bloomed for my enjoyment. Top-left: Brittlebush, Fremont Pincushion, Golden Evening Primrose, near Zabriskie Point, Mojave Desert Star, Desert Five-Spot, Desert Rock Nettle, Bigelow's Monkeyflower, Desert Chicory, and Notch-Leaf Phacelia.

Fremont Pincushion

Golden Evening Primrose

Desert Rock Nettle

Desert Five-Spot

Lesser Mohavea

Bigelow's Monkeyflower

Mojave Desert Star

Notch-Leaf Phacelia

Desert Chicory

Brittlebush

Forget-Me-Not

Scotty's Castle ~ Just outside the Death Valley National Park boundary is a wonderful sidetrip to a place which breaths the love of the desert and of extravagence.

"Death Valley Scott" convinced everyone that he had built the castle with money from his secret gold mine. Actually Albert Mussey Johnson built the house as a vacation getaway, costing $1.5-$2.5 million in the 1920/1930s. Scotty was a cowboy, entertainer, and con man, and also a friend of Albert. The two had different world visions, but shared a dream.

Scotty's Castle Clock Tower