Spring might be over for the rest of the world, but California is just getting started. While in New Delhi, untimely storms bode bad news for crops and plant life in general, California&rsquos winter storms and mudslides had a silver lining.
The winter storms in California helped the state say goodbye to its long-stretched famine. As the news goes, the desert near San Diego has been granted new life. With the colours of phoenix (dominant being orange and yellow poppies), the meadows of Sacramento, too, are blushing with what scientists are calling &ldquothe California super bloom.&rdquo
Story Behind The Bloom
During arid years, the seeds of annual wildflowers remain dormant within the delicate soil layers where their parent plants dispersed them. As the seasons pass, they await the arrival of rain to initiate germination. Once an ample amount of water is present, these flowers emerge as if after a swish of a magical wand&mdashfueled by a perfect blend of moisture, temperature, timing, and placement.
Despite this rare success, the botanists in the region are concerned that &ldquosuper blooms&rdquo can attract a large amount of crowd, which in turn can harm the ecosystem. According to historical records, the Indigenous tribes, including the Cahuilla and Serrano, actively honoured the vibrant blossoms of chia and other colourful flora during the spring season. Additionally, these tribes employed controlled fires to cultivate such plants. The Indigenous communities also embraced the consumption of poppy as a food source, using methods like boiling or steaming the entire plant. In 1774, the Spanish colonist Juan Bautista de Anza described the awe-inspiring sight of lush fields adorned with flowers that extended all the way to the shores of the sea.
However, this supposedly disappeared when the newcomers came in and planted non-indigenous plants.
With this return, which is but a throwback to the past, the California State Parks system is actively working to advise their visitors against trampling these new-born buds, which in turn, can leave bare patches on an otherwise blooming trail.