Behold The Super Bloom!
News coverage has been intense for the past few weeks as California’s “Super Bloom” is in full – well, BLOOM! Not sure what I’m referencing? Here’s a clue:
As USA Today reported last weekend:
It started with the desert lilies in December. Since then a wave of wildflower blooms has been crescendoing across Southern California’s Anza-Borrego desert in a burst of color so vivid it can be seen from mountain tops thousands of feet above.
But can you really see them? Is the “super bloom” really all that super?
Hike Among The Super Bloom!
The answer is: oh yes, it is! One of the best things about this incredible display of nature’s beauty is that there are lots of places you can go to get an closeup view!
The entire state of California has been deluged with rain for the past few months, turning a state that was more than 60% drought stricken to one that is now full of water – and all that rain has paid off in a spectacularly beautiful way!
The “Super Bloom” Has Arrived!
Why is this happening? What causes a “super bloom?” Well, USA Today explains:
Two years after steady rains followed by warm temperatures caused seeds dormant for decades under the desert floor to burst open and produce a spectacular display dubbed the “super bloom,” another winter soaking this year is expected to create possibly an even better show by Mother Nature.
So, years of drought followed by massive rain cause the flowers to wake up in a spectacular way. Alex and I had to see it for ourselves, and that meant it was time to get up early and hit the road!
We expected crowds, so we headed to Walker Canyon early. This well known hiking area is located at Lake Elsinore, about 90 minutes from Los Angeles. As is usual with SoCal, we took a lot of freeways: the “101” to the “10” to the “60” to the “71” to the “91” and then finally the “15”, which drops you off at the doorstep to the flowers!
A sign tells you where to park – not in a parking lot but actually alongside the road, and this winding lineup of cars played out for miles, as thousands of people descended on Walker Canyon to get a closeup look at the flowers – and this is how close you can get:
Yes, it was like a red carpet full of stars wearing a rainbow of colors – truly spectacular as you wandered along wide paths into the hills – there is incredible beauty everywhere you turn – here are a few more shots:
We walked among the hills of fresh flowers for two hours – you can literally walk for far longer, and it’s a never ending sea of color – as more and more people flooded in to capture the beauty:
It’s important to stay on the main paths, so that the flowers aren’t trampled – and most people were good about it – because the flowers literally grow right down to the path – so Alex got a few shots of us to share on Instagram:
It’s a trip well worth taking, and there are a number of great places to see this year’s “Super Bloom” – here are the five best spots:
Death Valley National Park
Lake Elsinore
Anza-Borrego Desert
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve
Joshua Tree National Park
California is a never-ending treasure trove of beauty, as we discovered when we came across a “Calla Lilly Valley” at the edge of the Pacific Ocean:
This is located just south of Carmel – here is more detail if you want to see if yourself:
https://johnrieber.com/2017/05/29/visit-natures-calla-lily-valley-amazing-pacific-ocean-adventure/
Let me know if you head out to see the “Super Bloom!”
Categories: Art, Exotic Travel, Los Angeles, Memoirs, nature, Pop Culture, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir, Uncategorized
Just wow absolutely beautiful, John…I just hope it doesn’t get spoilt by tourism…:) x
Luckily they have a lot of great hiking paths to keep people off the flowers!
Thats good to hear, John x
Beautiful. And ironic that the area’s mobbed with the cars of people eager to see them. But still, absolutely beautiful.
Yes, natural beauty created the ugliest of traffic jams…a great point!
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing! I wish I lived out there to see it. I am in Indiana where it’s 50 degrees today and sunny calling for rain the next two days. Looking forward to seeing spring flowers.
I know that everyone east of the Mississippi has had a tough winter, I hope your spring shows up soon, and thanks for the comment!
God’s glorious masterpiece from His paint pallett. This was an incredable journey without the traffic, and certainly even more so if you can see it up close at the actual sites. Many thanks for sharing your views.
Thank you for the comment, it is indeed a masterpiece!
Beautiful shots! I lived near Death Valley when the last super bloom happened. I took many pictures then.Thanks for the pictures especially since I live in northern California now.
Thank you for this. I have seen it in person as I lived in California for years, however it was wonderful to see all this beauty you have provided for us to see. Anna
Thank you for commenting – it truly is magical and a great result of our winter of rain!
Thanks John for showing God’s power on display.. We are in Temecula and had two trips by Elsinpre ;last week so saw the display from the freeway. Even with the delay from traffic it was well worth the time. Have emailed your showing Bfriends and family through out the country. Thanks again.
Thanks for the note – it really is spectacular!
You are blessed to be so well traveled! I enjoy your posts.
Thank you for reading and commenting – I enjoy your blog as well, glad I found it!
These look amaaazing John!
I’ve heard since then, they’ve had problems with so many people going off the paths and trampling the flowers. It is such a shame! 😦
We were there and the damage is fairly minimal – there are miles and miles of flowers, so I think they have a bigger issue with traffic control, but it is a shame that some people just don’t care about respecting the flowers and stay on the many many paths that take you so close to them!
I am so happy to see this! We have snow banks here.
Wow beautiful pictures! I’ve never heard of this before and we were just out in San Diego a few weeks ago. We will have to remember next time we head out that way.
It’s not an annual occurrence, but the heavy rains this winter have set the stage for it this year!
That’s absolutely stunning. Had no idea. Thanks for sharing it
Nature showing off for us and it’s spectacular! Thanks for the comment!
The pics are gorgeous, I can only imagine in person! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for the comment, yes it was really beautiful!
Fantastic, John! I hope AZ has the same results.
Cindy, Arizona has so many spectacular views that this would almost be overkill – that said, hope you get a “super bloom” close to you as well!
Absolutely gorgeous! I’d love to see it someday! And nice seeing both sides of you with Alex!! 🙂 🙂
HA! Indeed, and we are off to see another one as well!
Can’t wait to see more pictures! 🙂
I had never heard about that, John. Wonderful indeed, with some spectacular colours. Such a lot of people though! Thanks for taking us along on your trip. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
Pete, thousands there but the trails go on for miles, so not that crowded except in areas where the angleworm unbelievably intense!
Amazing and beautiful. Thanks for sharing this as it’s something I’m never likely to see for myself.
Thank you for sharing this – it truly was spectacular, and all nature!