Flower watchers, you are about to potentially get a treat of epic proportions if you plan on traveling to the southwestern United States over the course of the next few months. An unbelievably rare event known as a “superbloom” is possible in Death Valley National Park, an event that will generally happen only once a decade at best. The “superbloom” phenomenon occurs when millions of dormant seeds are given the perfect conditions to all become flowers and bloom at the same time, many times the blooms themselves becoming far larger in size than typical due to conditions being optimal. For flower lovers it is a rare treat, but for those who are intrigued by one of the driest landscapes on earth, it is especially awesome. Imagine a landscape that is almost always completely barren, sandy and rocky becoming covered in wildflowers, bursting to life with vivid colors. This is the magic of the superbloom in Death Valley National Park, and experts are predicting that it is very possible over the next few months.
The last superblooms that took place in Death Valley National Park were in 2005 and before that in 1998. The phenomenon will generally show a peak somewhere between mid-February and mid-July. The reason that it occurs so rarely is that only the perfect conditions will bring it on. Most people visiting the area do not realize that there are actually millions of dormant seeds in the ground which are waiting for the correct conditions to sprout. Because these conditions are so rare in the area, the volumes of seeds in the ground continues to build over years or even decades. When the perfect mix of warm sun over an extended period of time and water comes together, the dormant seeds spring to life causing the entire landscape to be transformed into a palate of colors that only the imagination can fathom.
The main reason behind the possibility of the superbloom is the El Nino rainfall that happened earlier in the winter in California, creating an unusually wet environment that actually led to flooding in the area that produced damage and road closures. Scotty’s Castle in Death Valley was closed due to flooding and has yet to be re-opened at this point. While the damage that water causes is notable, it also brings the potential for wildflower blooms that create a rare additional beauty in the area. The areas of Death Valley which will usually see the largest amounts of flowers is the south eastern area and low lying areas, however it is noted that there are flowers being seen in all areas of the park.
The wildflower fields that are beginning to erupt are yellow, green and purple. Low lying areas of the park will see peak blooms from now until April and in higher elevations April until May. Most familiar with the area are suggesting visiting Badwater Road where fields of Desert Gold (Geraea canescens) are beginning to emerge. Flower fanatics and tourists alike are ancouraged to book their Death Valley tours as soon as possible in order to avoid missing this once in a lifetime experience.
Book your Death Valley tour by clicking here: https://www.bindlestifftours.com/package/death-valley-tours-day/
