Worked at Edwards AFB (Flight Test) for some years even more years ago.
The the post-rain desert was beyond description.
here’s a taste of what I see from our mountain top (20 photos). Not as pretty as the high desert but spectacular in the whole:
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/superbloom-Lake-Elsinore-poppies-wildflowers-CA-13664172.php#photo-17026161