ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY LYNNE TUCKER
Spring is approaching and with it, the potential for a particularly vibrant California super bloom.
The “super-bloom” is a rare phenomenon where native wildflowers bloom in California’s deserts and grasslands, all at the same time.
These wildflower seeds lay dormant in the soil most years and California is in the midst of a drought, meaning they rarely get enough rainfall to bloom.
But when conditions are just right—usually after a particularly wet fall and winter—they all flower at once, sometimes creating breathtaking carpets of color.
The last super-bloom occurred in 2019, and was the most beautiful the state has seen in recent years. This followed a particularly wet season in California from November to March.
A huge number of poppies covered the Walker Canyon and Santa Monica Mountains and the bloom was so vibrant it could be seen from space. Tourists flocked to the area to capture photographs of the rare sight.
Late 2022 and early 2023 have seen historic rainfall sweeping across California meaning it could once again be in for a particularly stunning super-bloom, from mid-February to mid-May.
Cameron Barrows, a conservation ecologist at the Center for Conservation Biology at the University of California Riverside, told Newsweek that “the stage was set” for an exceptional super-bloom in 2023, at least in parts of California.
Think Superbloom 2023 and Enjoy the Beautiful Flowers this Season 🌸🌼🌺🌻🌹
