Wildflowers blanket Death Valley in best display since 2016

BBC ^ | March 10, 2026 | Jo Wade

[xxqqzz]

Death Valley in California - the hottest place on Earth and the driest place in North America - is currently carpeted in wildflowers in what is shaping up to be the best bloom in a decade.

The National Park Service (NPS) officially categorised this as an above-average bloom year on 22 February, with low-elevation flowers blooming throughout the park.

It is the best event the site has seen since 2016, with swathes of the desert transformed and covered in golden and violet flora.

[Jeff Chandler]

Poppy reserves: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=627

[mund1011]

I have lived in the Chicagoland area for 62 years. I have wisdom enough to understand Chicago has changed and not for the better. I would much rather take my chances on Death Valley. You do you.

[ifinnegan]

Botany talk. I like it.

[xxqqzz]

Well, Chicago might be dangerous too. However, the people killed in Death Valley mostly did stupid things, whether driving, offroading, hiking, motorcycling, etc. Like not a great idea to go there is the summer. If you do, best to stay on asphalt roads. Bring plenty of water and have a full tank of gas. Don’t rely on a GPS.

[gloryblaze]

It’s kind of mysterious why certain plants thrive one year vs another. The roadsides along the interstate here in Wisconsin are a case in point. About 7 or 8 years ago, every wild flower known and unknown to man or beast flourished like crazy all season long. It was dangerous for yours truly to drive and keep my eyes on the road. I couldn’t wait for the next Spring and round two. Never happened. Oh, well. Maybe this year.

[Carry_Okie]

Botany talk. I like it.

You might like my web site. There is a LOT there as well as the two other sites attached thereto. I've been at this a long time.

[Liz]

Facebook

[mass55th]

Thanks for reminding me what spring looks like.It’s currently 39 degrees here in Rome, NY with a low of 20. Snowed yesterday. Tomorrow temperatures in the 60’s. Tuesday, colder, freezing rain and temperatures in the 20’s. We usually go from winter to summer with very little spring.

[SuperLuminal]

WonderHussy’s compound improved...

[Axenolith]

I’ll vouch for it! His site is EPIC ifinnegan.

[ifinnegan]

Thanks!

[ifinnegan]

Thanks.

[Carry_Okie]

Thank you. It has been a lot of (still ongoing) work but has been worthy of a professional lifetime in doing the research upon which it is built.

Wait 'til you see the next site. It ties the work of all three sites together:

Wildergarten
Shemitta
Natural Process

The book to come will remain unstated until I buy the domain name. It has the modest goal of propitiating a religious, social, economic and environmental transformation.

OK, not so modest. :-q

[xone]

but convoyed through part of LA and out to Ft. Irwin.

Why? I-15 N to Irwin.