WHEN THE DESERT BLOOMS

Each spring vast swathes of arid land along South Africa's western seaboard are transformed by kaleidoscopic 'superblooms' of wild flowers. These eruptions of colour occur in many deserts and arid landscapes around the world, but few are as consistent or as diverse as South Africa’s flower season. The flowers are annuals, as opposed to perennials, and the show lasts just a few weeks, usually between late July and late September. With the first hot wind of summer every every last flower will desiccate and die, their seeds lying dormant through the baking heat of summer until next year’s rains.