California superbloom alert
California is seeing one of its most spectacular wildflower superblooms in years — heavy winter rains plus record warmth have pushed early blooms in low‑lying and desert spots like Anza‑Borrego. March–April is being called the sweet spot for park visits as crowds remain manageable. (nationalgeographic.com) (travel.yahoo.com)
Death Valley recorded roughly 2.5 inches (6 cm) of rainfall between November 2025 and January 2026 — more than its typical annual total of about 2 inches (5 cm) — a key reason dormant seeds sprouted this season. (earthsky.org) The National Park Service has called Death Valley’s display the park’s most spectacular wildflower event since 2016 and noted that “many sprouts have not yet flowered,” signaling more color could appear while conditions hold. (usatoday.com) Anza‑Borrego field surveys logged 189 plant taxa reported in bloom statewide since January 1, 2026, with local hikes finding 56–64 native species in single outings during late January. (tchester.org) Anza‑Borrego staff and state park releases point to concentrated displays along Henderson Canyon Road and list visible species this season including sand verbena, desert lilies, desert sunflowers, apricot mallow and evening primrose. (parks.ca.gov) Forecasters and mapping projects say lower‑elevation deserts began blooming in February and that the pulse of color typically moves upslope and north through spring, with higher or inland sites often peaking in April–May. (hipcamp.com) Park officials are urging visitors to stay on established trails after the 2016 superbloom drew more than 209,000 Death Valley visitors and caused widespread traffic and resource damage during that event. (popsci.com) Rapid warming and windy spells have already started to fade blooms in some areas this March, and recent local records of unseasonably warm weeks in January contributed to variability in when and where flowers actually peak. (aol.com)
