Wasteland Wakened~

On By cindy knokeIn Conservation, Flowers, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS

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.

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190 thoughts on “Wasteland Wakened~”

    1. 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

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  5. 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.

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    1. 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

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  9. 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.

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    1. 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

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  14. 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.

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    1. 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

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  16. 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.

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    1. 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

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      1. 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.

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  17. 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 😀❤️🙏

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    1. 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

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  25. 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!

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    1. 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

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  31. 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.

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  36. 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

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  40. Curt Mekemson

    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

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    1. 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

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  41. 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.

    Reply

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