What the Rain Brings

What the Rain Brings
            Every year, I see wildflowers on mountain trails, on bluffs above the beach, and in valley meadows. Sometimes they appear subtly, one or two blossoms here and there along a path, mixed in near ferns or poison oak.
            Seeing a lone wild iris on a Mt. Tam trail stops me in my tracks. Purple, pale yellow or white, they are all beautiful.
            Having said that, the “superbloom” phenomenon that has become a hot news topic in recent years also offers a powerful experience.
            The right combination of rain levels and temperature, usually a wet year after several dry years, can cause dense flower growth across vast fields, making it look like entire fields or mountainsides have been painted with bright colors.
            Will this year be a superbloom year? No one can accurately predict a given year’s rainfall and temperature patterns or know exactly how those will affect plant growth.
            We’ll know soon enough. Even if we don’t end up seeing the wide swaths of colorful blossoms we saw last year, wildflowers are already adorning trails with mixtures of pink, orange, white and purple.
            Next time you’re outdoors, whether in a city park or a remote trail, look carefully to see what bits of color pop into view. This is the season when flowers surprise us at every turn. Keep putting one foot forward!
            This week’s HikingAutism Hike Notes from the archives is Mori Point, a place that features glorious ocean views, sometimes whales offshore, and on years when the weather has been just right, a carpet of wildflowers in spring.
 
This week’s Hike Notes from the Archives:
(Original Hike Notes 12): Mori Point
 
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