The CA Super Bloom is a rare and magnificent sight. As of the writing of this post, it is in full force of all its glory. After years of drought to the point our reservoirs almost became “dead pools”, the accompanying fire seasons wiping out homes and nature a like, we finally got some rain. And rain it did! We had historic atmospheric rivers dump tons of precipitation coating the snow-capped mountains, trapping mountain village residents, flooding, mudslides and sinkholes. Living in CA is not for the faint of heart. But oh the weather the 95% of the time it’s not a chaos of destruction.
The historic rains have brought back to life a magnificent plethora of flowing flora, coating the landscape in shades of yellow, orange, purple. If you are in the LA area and haven’t seen it yet it’s about time to get out there for a peek. It won’t last long. Here are a few of my favorite spots:
1. Carrizo Plain National Monument
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A sprawling grassland in San Luis Obispo county, this one dry and barren landscape has transformed into a wonderland of flowers. The open spaces stretch for miles, undulating hills that are reminiscent of Georgia O’Keefe’s paintings of the desert southwest landscape. A couple weeks ago the pinnacle of blooming flowers was centered around Soda Lake which is impassible to vehicles, but a worthwhile hike.
You might get lucky and spot some elk or prong horned sheep in addition to the spectacular bloom.
2. Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve
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No super bloom fanatic should go another minute without heading out to the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve. Think fields of brilliant orange interspersed with a wide array of other flowers in yellows and purples, as far as the eye can see. The poppies are truly one of California’s greatest beauties to behold and they are only blooming for a short time, so what are you waiting for?!
3. Joshua Tree National Park
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The high desert is a personal fave and while it can appear rocky and lifeless at times, the super bloom in the desert is not to be missed. It is a spectacular and rare blossoming that shows the hardiness of life in the harshest of climates. Interspersed among the boulders and rocky hills with unparalleled views for miles, this is truly one of the most photogenic experiences of a lifetime.
I’ll see you out there fellow explorers!