A super bloom happens when a large concentration of wildflower seeds that have been dormant for years in the desert bloom sporadically and together when met with abundant rain.
Once in a few years, the hills of California burst with an explosion of colours. This happens when the wildflowers bloom in abundance and carpet the hillsides in hues of orange, purple, yellow and pink.
The wildflowers blanket the deserts and grasslands with such a grandeur that it can even be seen from space. This rare desert phenomenon in California when a large proportion of wildflowers bloom is called a super bloom.
The super bloom season occurs between late winter and early spring, from February through May. During this phenomenon, a large number of seeds sprout at the same time in the desert.
A super bloom happens when a large concentration of wildflower seeds that have been dormant for years in the desert bloom sporadically and together when met with abundant rain. A few weather conditions need to be satisfied for the super bloom to occur.
There must be a balance of sunshine, temperature, wind, and rainfall which will aid in the germination of the seeds that have been lying dormant for a long time in the desert soil.
The super blooms normally occur once every 10 to 15 years. But the years 2017 and 2019 saw the flowers blooming en masse. Depending on the location, the hillsides may get covered by desert sunflowers, desert lilies, California poppies, sand verbena, evening primrose and popcorn flowers.
A sudden change in temperatures such as cold weather or a hot spell can prevent the en masse blooming from happening. There are some human-induced factors that are a threat to the wildflowers and thereby severely affect the super bloom. These are residential development, mining, agriculture, climate change and so on.
Travellers are hopeful that this year they will be able to witness the super bloom. With some areas in San Diego County already blooming, people are hopeful that the floral phenomenon might appear this year.
The last time the super bloom happened tourists flocked to the area in hordes which led to a lot of road closures and traffic issues. It also caused habitat damage as people trampled over the flowers, picked them up, and followed trails that were closed to the public.
If one were to visit such a site, it goes without saying that one must visit the habitat responsibly. The plants should be left undisturbed and one must stick to the designated trails.
Picture Credit : Google
