Sonora Desert wildflowers
Mar 5, 2017 10:05:49 GMT -8
vinovampire, desert dweller, and 3 more like this
Post by davesenesac on Mar 5, 2017 10:05:49 GMT -8
Southern California media, newspapers and tv stations, are getting into a frenzy on the imminent World Class wildflower blooms in our inland desert areas. Soon national media will be doing the same rather like happened last year with the isolated Death Valley NP bloom.
This year's bloom will be much more widespread across the region as all areas have been well soaked. Some media is claiming this bloom will be the best in a couple decades, however I doubt it will top 2005 that was wetter as media people being urban oriented types, tends to have a very short memories about any natural stuff. The term "Superbloom" that began last year with the DV bloom is already being tossed around. All this media attention over desert wildflowers is something that has only risen after the rise of the Internet about 2000. Before that pretty much only desert locals, some photographers, and plant enthusiasts visited during such events.
I've been keeping close tabs on information sources just like I did last winter for my 2 Death Valley road trips in order to nail aesthetic peaks. Will be heading out on the road within a week where another old friend will join me down south so am busy with gear and packing. Thus am letting others on our board know, if you have ever wanted to experience one of these incredible natural events and have the personal flexibility to do so, especially retired folk like me, that within the next couple weeks a trip out here is advised. And note for anyone flying out a car rental will be a must. Weekday crowds will be much lower initially but by the end of the month will be a circus and weekends nuts with vehicle tourists jamming roads especially in popularized locations. However these areas are vast so with a bit of hiking one can easily leave all that behind.
Considerable landscapes about more southerly lower elevation areas of the Sonora Desert are already showing many flowers with many green herbs still rising. The two primary regions during this first phase are at vast Anza Borrego State Park in San Diego County and the southern border of Joshua Tree National Park just north in Riverside County. Further north about Mojave Desert areas that are also at a bit higher elevations, the peak bloom will be near the end of the month and into early April. The best bloom of all is likely to be further north outside the desert proper about Carrizo Plain National Monument, late March through April. Best source of general online info:
www.desertusa.com/wildflo/wildupdates.html
On Google News search with "wildflowers desert" for many hits with additional info.
David
This year's bloom will be much more widespread across the region as all areas have been well soaked. Some media is claiming this bloom will be the best in a couple decades, however I doubt it will top 2005 that was wetter as media people being urban oriented types, tends to have a very short memories about any natural stuff. The term "Superbloom" that began last year with the DV bloom is already being tossed around. All this media attention over desert wildflowers is something that has only risen after the rise of the Internet about 2000. Before that pretty much only desert locals, some photographers, and plant enthusiasts visited during such events.
I've been keeping close tabs on information sources just like I did last winter for my 2 Death Valley road trips in order to nail aesthetic peaks. Will be heading out on the road within a week where another old friend will join me down south so am busy with gear and packing. Thus am letting others on our board know, if you have ever wanted to experience one of these incredible natural events and have the personal flexibility to do so, especially retired folk like me, that within the next couple weeks a trip out here is advised. And note for anyone flying out a car rental will be a must. Weekday crowds will be much lower initially but by the end of the month will be a circus and weekends nuts with vehicle tourists jamming roads especially in popularized locations. However these areas are vast so with a bit of hiking one can easily leave all that behind.
Considerable landscapes about more southerly lower elevation areas of the Sonora Desert are already showing many flowers with many green herbs still rising. The two primary regions during this first phase are at vast Anza Borrego State Park in San Diego County and the southern border of Joshua Tree National Park just north in Riverside County. Further north about Mojave Desert areas that are also at a bit higher elevations, the peak bloom will be near the end of the month and into early April. The best bloom of all is likely to be further north outside the desert proper about Carrizo Plain National Monument, late March through April. Best source of general online info:
www.desertusa.com/wildflo/wildupdates.html
On Google News search with "wildflowers desert" for many hits with additional info.
David
