Awaiting a Wildflower Explosion
#1
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Awaiting a Wildflower Explosion
In The New York Times California newsletter:
Awaiting a Wildflower Explosion
<snip>
In late February and early March, wildflowers begin to peep out on the low-lying coast, deserts and Central Valley. Over time, the blooms make an ascent up the hills, and eventually into the mountains by summer.
Here are a few parks where you can catch some of the first peak flowers of the season:
In late February and early March, wildflowers begin to peep out on the low-lying coast, deserts and Central Valley. Over time, the blooms make an ascent up the hills, and eventually into the mountains by summer.
Here are a few parks where you can catch some of the first peak flowers of the season:
• Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, about 70 miles northeast of San Diego
<snip>
• Death Valley National Park, between Fresno and Las Vegas
<snip>
• Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, about 50 miles north of Los Angeles
<snip>
The crowd-pleasing poppies are likely to blossom in the next week or so.
• North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve, about five miles north of Oroville
<snip>
And with the soggy winter, you can count on an added treat: a number of Sierra-fed waterfalls.
<snip>
• Death Valley National Park, between Fresno and Las Vegas
<snip>
• Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, about 50 miles north of Los Angeles
<snip>
The crowd-pleasing poppies are likely to blossom in the next week or so.
• North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve, about five miles north of Oroville
<snip>
#2
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Also in The Huffington Post with some spectacular images:
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I think I'll stay in our local Sierra foothills this year. We get very nice displays after heavy rain years (and this has definitely been one of those) and the "big name" wildflower spots are going to be mobbed.
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I might stop at Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve SNR soon. It is a little bit off the I-5 route between NorCal and SoCal (near Lancaster and Palmdale).
Recent photos:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=24984
Info:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=627
Perhaps it's not as spectacular as Anza-Borrego Desert or other spots, but it's more accessible if you are already planning a north/south roadtrip on I-5.
Recent photos:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=24984
Info:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=627
Perhaps it's not as spectacular as Anza-Borrego Desert or other spots, but it's more accessible if you are already planning a north/south roadtrip on I-5.
#10
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It is about a half hour drive from I-5 via the Lancaster Freeway (SR138) or an hour via the Antelope Valley Freeway (SR14). This would be my recommended route if one were to take this detour.
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I wouldn't quite characterize it as being "a little bit off the I-5..."
It is about a half hour drive from I-5 via the Lancaster Freeway (SR138) or an hour via the Antelope Valley Freeway (SR14). This would be my recommended route if one were to take this detour.
It is about a half hour drive from I-5 via the Lancaster Freeway (SR138) or an hour via the Antelope Valley Freeway (SR14). This would be my recommended route if one were to take this detour.
In the overall scheme of things, I consider a 30 or 60 minute detour off I-5 to be just a little bit.
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#13
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KPCC:
Wildflowers, dormant for years, bloom across California
Excerpts:
Excerpts:
***
But a "super bloom" is a term for when a mass amount of desert plants bloom at one time. In California, that happens about once in a decade in a given area. It has been occurring less frequently with the drought. Last year, the right amount of rainfall and warm temperatures produced carpets of flowers in Death Valley. So far this year, the natural show has been concentrated in the 1,000-square-mile Anza Borrego State Park that abuts Borrego Springs. It is expected to roll along through May, with different species blooming at different elevations and in different areas of the park. Anza Borrego is California's largest state park with hundreds of species of plants, including desert lilies, blazing stars and the flaming tall, spiny Ocotillo.
***
The blooms are attracting hungry sphinx moth caterpillars that munch through acres. The caterpillars in turn are attracting droves of Swainson hawks on their annual 6,000-mile (9,656-kilometer) migration from Argentina. "It's an amazing burst in the cycle of life in the desert that has come because of a freakish event like a super bloom," Haddock said. "It's exciting. This is going to be so huge for our economy."
***
This year's display has been especially stunning, experts say. The region received 6˝ inches (165 millimeters) of rain from December to February, followed by almost two weeks of 90-degree temperatures, setting the conditions for the super bloom. Five years of drought made the seeds ready to pop.
***
But a "super bloom" is a term for when a mass amount of desert plants bloom at one time. In California, that happens about once in a decade in a given area. It has been occurring less frequently with the drought. Last year, the right amount of rainfall and warm temperatures produced carpets of flowers in Death Valley. So far this year, the natural show has been concentrated in the 1,000-square-mile Anza Borrego State Park that abuts Borrego Springs. It is expected to roll along through May, with different species blooming at different elevations and in different areas of the park. Anza Borrego is California's largest state park with hundreds of species of plants, including desert lilies, blazing stars and the flaming tall, spiny Ocotillo.
***
The blooms are attracting hungry sphinx moth caterpillars that munch through acres. The caterpillars in turn are attracting droves of Swainson hawks on their annual 6,000-mile (9,656-kilometer) migration from Argentina. "It's an amazing burst in the cycle of life in the desert that has come because of a freakish event like a super bloom," Haddock said. "It's exciting. This is going to be so huge for our economy."
***
This year's display has been especially stunning, experts say. The region received 6˝ inches (165 millimeters) of rain from December to February, followed by almost two weeks of 90-degree temperatures, setting the conditions for the super bloom. Five years of drought made the seeds ready to pop.
***
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