Southern California's desert landscapes, the dramatic bluffs of the Bay Area, and even the vicinity of Los Angeles International Airport are currently adorned with carpets of yellow, orange, and gold flowers. However, the question arises: Is this a superbloom?
There isn't a single definition of a superbloom, but this year's blooms haven't quite matched the vibrancy and abundance of the ones that covered California last spring after significant rains. Despite ample winter rains this year, the blooms have not been as robust.
Superblooms occur after seasons with more than 30% average precipitation, according to Naomi Fraga, director of conservation programs at the California Botanic Garden. She noted that widespread blooms are visible by satellite imagery in some years, resulting from seeds lying dormant in the soil and germinating simultaneously.
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A bloom of yellow wildflowers in Palos Verdes Estates, California in May 2023 (AFP via Getty Images)However, Fraga doesn't consider this year's blooms as a superbloom due to a lack of flower diversity, especially in places like Death Valley. Fraga commented: "When I think of superblooms, I think of a bloom that is so extraordinary, that’s a once-in-a-lifetime event." However, she acknowledged that this year's wildflower display still makes for a beautiful show.
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Last spring, visitors to Southern California's Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve were treated to vibrant orange displays of the state flower. This year, however, the orange blooms were absent around the same time, with reserve officials noting that the window for an impressive show was narrowing.
Wildflowers bloom near the Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park of San Francisco in 2023 (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)In Death Valley, known as one of the driest places on earth, stretches of desert are currently dotted with gold thanks to sunflowers emerging after a wet winter and spring. Evan Meyer, executive director of the Theodore Payne Foundation, stated that whether this constitutes a superbloom is "really in the eye of the beholder."
April is typically the peak month for spring wildflowers, with superblooms generally referring to low-elevation desert regions, Fraga added. "It's much more geographic than seasonal," Meyer noted. While spring in the mountains is yet to start, in the low desert, it has passed its peak.
Climate change is making precipitation patterns erratic, affecting wildflowers and their bloom (Getty Images)For all the latest news, politics, sports, and showbiz from the USA, go to The Mirror US
As temperatures rise, the flowers can quickly dry out, and experts suggest that it might be too early to determine the effects of climate change on superblooms. Fraga mentioned that climate change is making precipitation patterns more erratic, with effects on wildflowers possibly unfolding over decades or even centuries.
Southern California's heavy rain last summer, unlike its usually dry summers, likely stimulated flowers to germinate out of season. With higher winter temperatures than average, many flowers were able to stay in bloom through the spring season, making for an unusual bloom, Fraga concluded.
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