February 23, 2016

Come on! Let's go to Death Valley. It's the biggest wildflower "superbloom" since 2005.

After record rains in October, the bloom started in November and went big in January. We almost took a road trip to Death Valley. It's at the top of my list of places I've been once and want to go back to. If I didn't have classes, we'd be packing up the car and driving right now.

#superbloom!

23 comments:

Meade said...

Can't you just phone in those classes things of yours?

David Begley said...

I thought there was a drought and catasophric global warming. Did things change? Were the computer models wrong?

traditionalguy said...

Beauty everywhere. My compliments to the designer.

Mazo Jeff said...

Any one know how long the bloom will last ?

MaxedOutMama said...

Plants are amazing. They will flower, drop their seeds, and their seeds will sit out there, waiting five or ten or fifteen years for the next chance. Those seeds will sit out there in temps of 120 or more, in acutely dry conditions, year after year. And when the rains come. ...

It's awesome.

Portlandmermaid said...

Death Valley is a wonderful place. It looks empty but there's Scotty's Castle, the Devil's Racetrack (bring a teakettle!), Zabriskie Point, Marble Canyon, Titus Canyon, on and on.

Limited blogger said...

We were driving in Death Valley once, and the windshield got a very minor mist; didn't even need the wipers. Later found out that was the year's rainfall.

buwaya said...

El Nino brought a lot of rain early in the season, but February has been a huge disappointment, as the "ridiculously resilient ridge", which blocks storm systems, is back, and El Nino is rapidly fading. On the whole it's been a very frustrating season, rain and snow in California has been no better than average and hasn't ended the drought.

richlb said...

You'd be..... traveling?

Rusty said...

Mazo Jeff said...
Any one know how long the bloom will last ?

Until it's over.

Rusty said...

Meade said...
Can't you just phone in those classes things of yours?

Yeah. Give everybody a two week independent study thingie that you expect on your desk when you return.
You can do this. You're in charge.
Tell Admin. Rusty says it's OK.

Meade said...

Note to self: send Rusty a postcard from Death Valley.

Etienne said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
JAORE said...

I worked in the desert area outside of Pueblo, Colorado many years ago. No Death Valley, but by all appearances a pretty barren place. Then we had a rain shower come through. The next day the landscape was transformed.

I suppose it wasn't all that spectacular when compared with wetter landscapes. But the change was astonishing. And fleeting.

DavidD said...

It's gotta be global warming's fault somehow....

Amy said...

We went to Death Valley about 6 years ago. Loved it and were mesmerized.
Wanted to go back so badly and experience it again. Went last year. Terrible time.
Would have been better to just have gone once and quit while we were ahead.

Titus Canyon Rd is incredible though.

Rockport Conservative said...

We went at the end part of the 2005 superbloom. It was still pretty amazing considering how barren the place is. It is an interesting place to visit and to realize how much water flows into it every single day. I would recommend one visit it just to see how desolate it is, and wonder why anyone every got out alive before modern transportation.

Sam L. said...

Global Warming...is bad for people, other things, and the Entire Planet!

KellyM said...

I absolutely love Death Valley. My husband and I have spent at least one week each year for the last 5 years camping in the backcountry and enjoying the solitude. I am hoping to get there within the next month or so, although I fear with the sudden halt to the rains we may not see any of the famed flowers when we get there. Oh well, no matter. I could use the trip anyway.

JamesB.BKK said...

This global warming / climate change / climate disruption is just awful. It must be stopped no matter the cost.

Deborah said...

Can't you just assign them a week's worth of reading with a test to follow and go? :) I wish I were able to go. I was there in Spring a few years ago and there were flowers, but not this superbloom with carpets of flowers.

I'm hoping to get one week-end in Antelope Valley for the California Poppies. It's not to far from Death Valley.

Since I can't get down to DV I'm trying to be content with all that's blooming around me and the hills nearby. Spring is blossoming all over the Bay Area.

Mazo Jeff said...

Hey Rusty!

I had asked that question because my wife and I were planning a trip west in April. I was wondering if the bloom was expected to last that long so we would have included a route through DV. But since there are smart ass jerks like you in the world, I think we will stay home and enjoy the blooms of the Wisconsin River valley. Thanks for adding intelligence to the conversation.

Rusty said...

But since there are smart ass jerks like you in the world, I think we will stay home and enjoy the blooms of the Wisconsin River valley. Thanks for adding intelligence to the conversation.

It's like a gift I have, so,... You're Welcome!

Why not go anyway? If you've never been there you'll enjoy the experience. Even if the desert isn't in bloom it's still pretty spectacular. Especially coming from the midwest. Except for I15 through the desert is pretty much a garbage dump. If you're looking for a nice dinette set or a set of radial tires you might want to go that way.

If you let jerks get in your way you'll never get anywhere