Mojave Desert Life: I told my wife that we would try to find some wildflowers...

...on our trip to the Calico Mountains.  She wanted to try out the .22 caliber Smith & Wesson hand-gun that I'd purchased.

As we searched for a spot to set up our targets, we noticed that there were no wildflowers, despite the recent rains.

It wasn't until we were packing up for the trip home, that I noticed the flower in the photograph on the right, protruding through the gravel.  

1/160th sec. @ f 5.6.

Mojave Desert Ruins...

...entrance to old building in Randsburg.

Landscape photography in the desert...

Beauty in the desert is subtle.

1/30th sec. @f.22.

Mojave Desert HIstory: Randsburg...

Another old structure that is now an antique shop.

Mojave Desert History: More from Randsburg...

The old saloon dates back to Randsburg's wild days, during the late nineteenth century, when a rough element regularly made its presence known.

Today, the saloon caters to riders of a different sort:  those on motorcycles, ATV's, and the driver's of four wheel drive vehicles, who come into town after exploring the nearby hills.

Mojave Desert History: The hills around Randsburg...

...still bear the marks of mining activity, some of it ongoing to this day.

1/100th sec. @f.13.

Mojave Desert mining towns: Randsburg...

...Many of the old buildings still exist.  Many have been converted into shops, which are open infrequently.  Such is the case with the shop in the photograph on the right.