(CLAIR) – After a winter of record-breaking rainfall, California could witness a stunning super bloom this year. Not much to see right now, but we will know in a few short weeks.
California is renowned for its native wildflowers, with the California poppy being the state’s most famous and official flower. Super blooms occur when a high concentration of wildflower seeds that have been dormant for years suddenly bloom to life after an unusually wet rainy season. When all the necessary conditions are in place, the effect is breathtaking.
While experts agree that several factors must come together for a super bloom to occur, sprouts are already pushing through the ground in Simi Valley, increasing the chances of a stunning poppy bloom next month.
The Southern Sierra Nevada snowpack is up 230% above average, and our mountain areas received more precipitation this winter than ever before. Downtown Los Angeles experienced its wettest January since 2017 with 8.95 inches of rainfall. This much-needed water provided some relief to the drought-stricken Golden State and could lead to one of the most anticipated natural phenomena in California, a wildflower super bloom.
Bloom season typically runs from February to May, with the peak happening in mid-March. During this time, people from all over the country flock to California to witness the colorful blossoms. In 2019, some locations in California, such as Lake Elsinore, received up to 100,000 visitors in a single weekend. If a bloom occurs in Simi Valley again, places like Corriganville Park become particularly popular destinations for poppy admirers from out of town.
Get your cameras and your hiking boots ready. This could be an especially beautiful time to be living in Simi Valley.
