Superbloom 2023

NATURE'S EXHIBITION THAT CAN BE SEEN FROM SPACE

Rare desert botanical phenomena known as 'Superblooms' are currently emerging across the state of California and are so large and colourful that they can be seen from space. These unusually high proportion of wildflowers that have lain dormant but germinate and blossom at roughly the same time, tend to occur once every 10 years.

Following years of drought the seeds released by parent plants can't germinate due to a lack of moisture, but they lay dormant until a refreshing and continuous rain causes several years' worth of seed to sprout all at once.

The California Department of Parks and Recreation recommends seven sites in Southern California where visitors can see the blooms, which have already arrived and, in many cases, are projected to continue well into May 2023 but are warned not to walk on the flowers. Instead they can watch from afar and download an iNaturalist app to learn more about each flower species and foster a closer appreciation and connection to the flower and the land itself.