
The Sonoran Desert in Southern California,

is bursting in bloom!

Rains continue into May in the desert which is unheard of.

Note the people midway up the mountain to give you perspective on the scope of of the superbloom which cover many mountains.

Blooming Brittlebush carpet the foothills in vibrant yellow blankets.

This bloom in Whitewater Wildlands Conservancy is ‘Off the Beaten Path.’ Most superbloom areas in Southern California are mobbed with crowds, but even on the weekend, there are very few people here. You hike by yourself in the wilderness.

The river for which the conservancy is named is full of snow melt cascading into the desert from the surrounding mountains,

filling natural resevoirs to capacity with overflow.

Southern California mountains and deserts are happy!

Cheers to you from the desert in May.
Note: I am traveling now and continuing my ‘Off the Beaten Path’ travel destination series as I go.
Stunning, Cindy. I’ve not heard of Brittlebrush before – what an incredible plant. Your photos are ace 🙂
Aww…. So appreciated! Thanks so much Polly დ
What an incredible sight, just stunning. Do they have any scent?
It is incredible. The biggest bloom I have seen. I didn’t pick up any scent,but I sure picked up lots of pollen which my allergies did not appreciate! Cheers to you Pauline დ
It has been a brilliant year for flowers. I’ll be in SoCal next week and hope to see some of it for myself.
Wonderful! I hope you see some brilliant shows დ
Beautiful
Thanks much! დ
Wow! That is quite a beautiful show! Such a visual feast.
It seems that the weather this spring has been very unusual in many places. In the subarctic, we are experiencing temperatures around 26-27C (79-81F); frankly bizarre for this northern locale in May. And because the snow melted so quickly, the water wasn’t able to soak into the still-frozen ground, so now everything is very dry and we are expecting forest fires.
Oh my. And so it goes. Weather patterns altered, upsetting the natural balance of our precious planet and threatening everything that lives here. Sad. დ
Beautiful photographs!🌸😮
Thank you very much Aaysid დ
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A wonderful, superblooming spring there!
Yes indeed! Cheers to you Audrey & Happy Spring დ
We love nature. We are deeply connected to it and it’s my hope we as a race awaken to it more and more each day. Your photography beckons and makes us aware of that connection. Thank you.
How beautifull stated Steve. I couldn’t agree more. Thank you my friend დ
Too much of a good spring is wonderful! My soul is awakened just looking at these spectacular shots! ೭੧(❛〜❛✿)੭೨💕💕💕🌈
Makes me smile. So kind & so appreciated! Cheers my friend დ
Happy new week, my friend! 😍🌈🌵🌹
Visa versa 2UX2! დდ
Magic! Thank you for sharing 😊👍. Is the bloom unusual because of a lot of rain or is it always so plentiful in spring?
Thank you! California had a record-breaking amount of rain and snow this year, finally putting an end to our many years of drought. It is this precipitation, which is still happening, that created this amazing superbloom დ
Those slopes are certainly very yellow! They must look so different at other seasons.
Typically it is the harsh, barren beauty, of the desert, which is so very different! დ
So beautiful.. Keep giving
So appreciated. Thank you very much & be well დ
How glorious Cindy ! ‘The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.’ – Isaiah 35:1,2 I am reminded from your beautiful photos of the joyous hope and recovery that comes to us through the Lord Jesus.
What a beautiful passage from Isaiah! It describe the entire experience to perfection. God’s beauty at work in the land. Thank & Bless you Ashley დ
Fine landscapes. I’m pleased you’ve had the rain
Thank you Derrick. The rain has been such a needed blessing! დ
Oh Cindy, you keep doing this with such easy charm. The abundant images, beautiful of course – but more the beauty of you allowing us to also see. Might’s welcome a moment for reverie. You know, happy stuff. 🙂 Last suppose fine by you, but I like explicit – would like to use/share that photo, the first of far folk on the mountain – perspective, yes, and how i feel seeing this. Thank you. Happy trails as well to you.
I am honored. Please feel free to use the photos and thank you so much for asking. Please just the site the source once somewhere. I so appreciate your kind thoughtfulness Neil & take good care my friend დ
Thank you kindly Cindy. I know just the one that caught my eye. And of course, linked credits, not that you need any boost from me, but me, I’d like more folk seeing the wonderful photography you do. Blah blah, I go on. You’re appreciated is my meaning.
So appreciated. Take good care my friend and thank you.
Wow! It goes on forever Cindy, those people may disappear into a yellow wilderness forever. Like us, so much rain it has sent it all out of kilter. But in this case what a way to go 😀❤️🙏
It is amazing to walk amongst the blooms. It is like wonderland. But, wow, did I ever get the allegry pay back last night! It was worth it though. Cheers to you Mark დ
Ouch! But your like me Cindy, you just have to do it even if you pay for it for a while 🤣❤️🙏
Exactly.
Simply Gorgeous!!
Sincere thanks Darlene & cheers! დ
how absolutely beautiful, and I can’t believer how expansive it is
Yes. The extent of surface the bloom is covering is truly amazing. Thanks much Beth & cheers დ
Fabuleux
Merci beacoup Sheree! დ
I’d never heard of a desert superbloom. It’s absolutely stunning!
Merci beaucoup mon Ami Liz! დ
You’re welcome, Cindy.
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What a blessing the rain has brought… gorgeous!
I have never seen a bloom like this one. The cacti are just starting to bud too. They are going to be amazing. Take good care Eliza დ
Thanks for the great photos. What a sight!
You are so welcome & cheers to you! დ
The blooming desert is so amazing!
Have a fine sunday, dear Cindy!
Happy Sunday dear friend Martha & stay safe and well დ
How beautiful! Is it true that these superblooms occur when there has been a lot of spring rain? I am loving your off the beaten path series!
It is true. California has received record rain and snow this year, causing nature to put on quite an exuberant show! So happy you are enjoying the series. I am enjoying creating it. Cheers to you Jennie დ
Thanks, Cindy. Keep sending us your beautiful photos!
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Großartige Fotos.
Vielen dank Marie დ
Gorgeous views and images. Thanks for sharing this rare treat Cindy!
Thank you more for appreciating it Brad & cheers დ
Absolutely gorgeous!
Mother Nature is the artist of the universe! Thank you Eugi დ
Indeed, she is, Cindy.
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I have been writing about the Sonoran Desert of Arizona – post coming soon – but your photos are beyond anything I ever imagined this desert to look like! Just stunning, Cindy!
It is truly an amazing transformation from barren beauty to The Garden of Eden! Look forward to your post დ
What a fine sight to catch, snap and share. Thank you Cindy
Thank you for the kind appreciation Eddie & take care დ
I certainly will Cindy, thank you, you too!
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Cindy, not to appear ignorant, but what does
‘დდ’ mean anyway?
They are heart symbols and a letter d in the Georgian word for love მადლობის თქმა
Well, this is good to know!
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hugs Cindy
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Those rains really made the desert bloom! I haven’t seen anything like that since we move from CA to Illinois years ago right about this time of year.
Every once in awhile it will superbloom, but this one is the Queen of superblooms! დ
Beautiful.
Grazie Timothy დ
These landscapes you have captured are really very amazing. Thank you Cindy. 🙂
Thank you more for your constant kindness & cheers to you my friend დ
Awe-inspiring!
Thanks so much! Cheers to you my friend დ
A pleasure to see, Angel! ♥
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Great captures! 🌼
Grazie mille Cindy დ
My Pleasure Cindy!💕
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It won’t be a desert for long with all that rain Cindy. We’ve had a lot of rain too. I guess it’s building up the water table. Enjoy your travels.
Leslie
We are going skiing! The ski mountains will be open until July! Thanks God for the water table replenishment. Take good care Leslie დ
Enjoy the skiing Cindy. We went skiing at Blackcomb many years ago in July. It was amazing.
What fun! The latest I’ve skiied is June.
What beauty lies in the desert mountains! Gorgeous pictures, Cindy.
So happy you enjoyed & many thanks Dale დ
Very much so. 😊
😍❤️❤️❤️🙏
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Beautiful pictures, as always, Cindy.
So appreciated Andrew. Thank you & cheers დ
Beautiful, Cindy. Wish I were there to enjoy it. I particularly liked your last photo with the snow covered mountain backdrop. Pretty close to heaven. 🙂 –Curt
Thanks much Curt. It is truly beautiful here with the snow capped mountain peaks, the rushing snow fed river, and the flowers covering everything. Quite a combination for barren desert! დ
I think “wasteland” is a misnomer. Swamps (marshes, wetlands) are also called wastelands, but there is so much life in these places. Wonderful photos, as usual, Cindy.
Very true. I was referring to changed appearance due to the superbloom The desert ecosystem supports an amazing variety of life.
Sure does. I love those photos!
Thank you. We both love the ever fascinating, and always surprising, desert.
So lovely! Enjoy your travels 🙂
Merci beaucoup mon Ami June! დ
Beautiful shots Cindy.
So happy you enjoyed & thank you my friend დ
Lovely awakening!
Grazie mille! დ
Hurrah! Some good weather news!
Amen & best to you Eileen დ
The yellows and greens make my heart sing! 💛💚
So glad they do Teresa & cheers to you my friend დ
What a beautiful landscape
Thank you. It was quite striking with the snowy mountains in the background დ
How absolutely beautiful! A real treat to the eyes, you must really have enjoyed taking your photos there Cindy!
Thank you very much Helene. I was thrilled to be amidst all this natural joy დ
Incredible.
It was just that! Take good care Gigi დ
Happy deserts and a real gift to us all. Thank you Cindy 💐
Merci beaucoup mon Ami Val დდ
I saw some of So Cal’s super bloom on our drive down I-15 in late March. So awesome to see the desert so alive in May! That last image of the desert covered in gold with snow-capped mountains in the background is iconic! You could sell that to Getty images 🙂
You made my heart smile Terri. Thank you my friend & stay well დ
I haven’t been to that preserve; the last time my late husband and I were camping that far south, we were at Joshua Tree — what a great year to explore there! The brittlebush is fascinating to me, because as much as I have traversed up and down California in the last several decades, I don’t think I’ve encountered it. (At least, I didn’t ever enter its name in my blog or computer 😉 ) And considering how much of it is growing down there, that is surprising!!
Thank you for showing us the glory.
You are so welcome and I am happy you enjoyed! Interesting you should say this. My husband asked me what it was. I have lived here all my life and have seen brittlebush many times in the rocky parts of the desert, but in this profuse, dispersed superbloom, I was stumped. The reason you, and I, didn’t immediately identify it, is because we normally see it as a compact gray shrub, sometimes with yellow daisy like flowers, but I certainly have never seen it put on a show like this! Superblooms in the desert seem to happen in certain areas.
Incredible!! And I love this word for it, Cindy – Superbloom!🤗
Very pleased you enjoyed & cheers to you! დ
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Grateful for friends like you Sharon. Be well my friend დ
Seems like this crazy climate change is good here, and bad there.
Have you ever seen Brittlebush carpet before in this area?
I wonder, will this become the norm here?
Will crowds follow?
Have a great time beating “off the beaten path”!
Yes, it has been bad here for so many years with the drought. It feels like heaven now. These blooms and water flooding in the desert are really ancient occurances. There used to be annual floods, ten year floods, and hundred year floods (which were really bad apparently but I wasn’t here then!) The thing that has been utterly abnormal has been the ten years or so of severe drought, now followed by snow pack in Sierras that has broken all historical records. I hiked to a waterfall in another desert today that looked like something you would see in Canada. This does happen in the desert periodically which you can see from how historical floods carved the land. But the total depletion of water sources in the state from the past ten years is something new and ominous.
Nice colours in these shots!
Thanks much Sharon დ
It makes the YellowRose of Texas look shabby!
Nah! Texas has such beautiful wildflowers დ
Mother Nature in all her glory! Enjoy your travels 🙂
Thank you Rosaliene! Mother Nature is the supreme Artist დ
All those flowers provide a very bright spring-time! How wonderful. I’ve shared links on twitter and mastodon.
So thoughtful of you and so appreciated too! Thanks much my friend & take good care დ
magnificent
Grazie mille Carl დ
Amazing nature!
Yes. Indeed. Cheers! დ
Beautiful shots! Missing the desert bloom in SoCal is perhaps our greatest regret during our time there.
I am so sorry you missed it. დ
Vibrant yellow blankets, indeed! Gorgeous…and the reservoir is beautiful, too.
Thank Sheila. It is wonderful to see such a healthy desert დ
I’m glad you found a super bloom without the crowds. I read yesterday that one area closed due to the trampling of the flowers. It’s such a shame. As always, stunning pics, Cindy.
Yes, supercrowding the superblooms. Thanks much Alys & cheers დ
As always, beautiful photos!
Molte grazie! დ
Absolutely stunning. I guess these plants really have to make the most of the rain. I find it interesting that others have commented that lots of people have been out to see the flowers and trampling on them. Were you up at the crack of dawn?
Thank you so much Emma! This place was ‘off the beaten path.’ Few people know about it, so it was sparsely populated. There are other superblooms areas that everyone knows about that are massively crowded. This post is second in a series of posts I am doing on ‘Off the Beaten Path’ places. დ
Meravigliose immagini, d’una radiosa primavera
Un caro saluto,silvia
Grazie per la tua premura mia cara amica Silvia დ
Oh so beautiful! Nature always knows what to do. It reminds me of the superbloom I just experienced in Canberra last Dec-Jan.
Alison
Nature does know! We just need to learn to listen. I would love to visit Canberra! დ
Such an amazing site . This Blooming Brittlebush carpet caught my attention. Anita
Thanks much Anita. So pleased you enjoyed. It was quite a spectacular spectacle! დ
What beauty! I especially like your photo of the reservoir (I’m a bit partial to water!) Happy travels, Cindy!
Yes. The presence of water is immediately soothing to me as well, especially in a drought stricken desert! დ
Thanks for sharing stunning nature. <3
You are so welcome my friend & cheers to you! დ
<3
What a gorgeous difference the moisture has made!
Yes! It is truly remarkable Patty დ
Magnificent!
Grazie mille Carla დ
How wonderful to see the desert in full bloom. Thank you, atmospheric rivers!
Amazing
Happy you enjoyed and cheers Athira დ
Such beauty after long drought! God is so amazing!
Breathtaking! Beauty to behold and take in the wonder of it all! God’s handiwork indeed!
I’ve never seen a desert look so lush! Incredible landscape, and photos 🙂
Ah…Cindy! These shots just speak to the very heart of me! How lovely…how beautiful! Thanks for sharing from your soul…sending lots of good energy your way <3
Such beauty!
Grazie mille Bridgette დ
Merci beaucoup mon Ami Bridgette! დ
Oh, Joy, Cindy. What a marvelous wildflower display. Excellent series and I bet a thrill to see. 🌼🌼🌼