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Early rain and warm weather: is this a super-bloom season?

Over the past few weeks there’s been one topic on the minds of Mojave Desert residents: it’s green.

Gentle rainstorms lasting several days have moved slowly across the desert over the past few months, leaving a particular lush carpet of green that is now starting to come up golden, purple, and orange.

The Death Valley Natural History Association has reported excellent conditions in Death Valley, with David Becker, the executive director of the association, suggested that, while “the weather over the next several weeks will be the determining factor, but from what I’m seeing on the ground, this could be the best year we’ve had since the spectacular displays of 2005.”

The season of 2004-2005 (see photo) was an unusually wet one, leading to several ephemeral lakes and spectacular wildflowers that painted the normally stark landscape in shades of yellow and purple.

Should the weather remain mild, with low wind speeds, and regular rain showers, it’s possible that Death Valley could, once again, be blanketed in bright carpets of color.

To keep updated about wildflower conditions you can call the Wildflower Hotline at (760) 767-4684 or like national park’s facebook page.