Death Valley National Park Is Poised For A Rare 'Super Bloom'

Every so often, climate conditions at the park are just right for a breathtaking floral display.

Life in Death Valley National Park may be on the verge of an explosion.

Rangers at the California-Nevada park say a rare "perfect storm" of conditions could soon lead to an event known as a super bloom, the first in over a decade.

A super bloom, which is not a technical term but simply an informal name for a really magnificent display of flowers, requires certain weather conditions: heat from the sun, well-spaced precipitation during the winter and spring and an absence of wind, according to ABC News.

So while you can expect to see this from a normal bloom in Death Valley...

Open Image Modal
Death Valley National Park

...a super bloom would look a bit more like this, and then some:

Open Image Modal
Death Valley National Park

Park rangers say the super bloom is not to be missed.

“If you get the chance to see a bloom in Death Valley, especially a super bloom, you should take the opportunity to see it, because it could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," park ranger Alan Van Valkenburg says in a video posted to the park's YouTube channel last week.

"There are so many seeds out there just waiting to sprout, just waiting to grow. I had no idea that there was that much out there," he says in the clip. "These areas that are normally just rock, just soil, just barren, not even shrubs -- they're filled with life."

The peak times for blooming in Death Valley usually fall between mid-February and mid-July, according to ABC News.

Death Valley’s last two super blooms happened in 1998 and 2005.

Open Image Modal
Life in Death Valley.
Death Valley

Also on HuffPost:

 

Ten Best U.S. National Parks
#10 Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona(01 of11)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grand_Canyon_(5).jpg" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="MediaWiki:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="56c32cf3e4b0b40245c7d18d" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grand_Canyon_(5).jpg" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="19" data-vars-position-in-unit="23">MediaWiki:</a><a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:File%20Upload%20Bot%20(Magnus%20Manske)" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske)" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="56c32cf3e4b0b40245c7d18d" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:File%20Upload%20Bot%20(Magnus%20Manske)" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="20" data-vars-position-in-unit="24">File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske)</a>)
#9 Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii(02 of11)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lava_enering_ocean5n.jpg" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="MediaWiki:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="56c32cf3e4b0b40245c7d18d" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lava_enering_ocean5n.jpg" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="17" data-vars-position-in-unit="21">MediaWiki:</a><a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Mbz1" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Mbz1" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="56c32cf3e4b0b40245c7d18d" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Mbz1" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="18" data-vars-position-in-unit="22">Mbz1</a>)
#8 Yosemite National Park, California(03 of11)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yosemite_National_Park.jpg" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="MediaWiki:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="56c32cf3e4b0b40245c7d18d" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yosemite_National_Park.jpg" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="15" data-vars-position-in-unit="19">MediaWiki:</a><a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Huebi" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Huebi" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="56c32cf3e4b0b40245c7d18d" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Huebi" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="16" data-vars-position-in-unit="20">Huebi</a>)
#7 New Orleans Jazz Historical Park, Louisiana(04 of11)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Perseverance-Hall-No-4.jpg" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="MediaWiki:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="56c32cf3e4b0b40245c7d18d" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Perseverance-Hall-No-4.jpg" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="13" data-vars-position-in-unit="17">MediaWiki:</a><a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Eoghanacht" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Eoghanacht" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="56c32cf3e4b0b40245c7d18d" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Eoghanacht" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="14" data-vars-position-in-unit="18">Eoghanacht</a>)
#6 Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina and Virginia(05 of11)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blue_Ridge_Parkway_in_Fall.jpg" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="MediaWiki:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="56c32cf3e4b0b40245c7d18d" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blue_Ridge_Parkway_in_Fall.jpg" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="11" data-vars-position-in-unit="15">MediaWiki:</a><a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Fredddie" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Fredddie" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="56c32cf3e4b0b40245c7d18d" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Fredddie" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="12" data-vars-position-in-unit="16">Fredddie</a>)
#5 Statue of Liberty National Monument, New York(06 of11)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Statue_of_Liberty.jpg" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="MediaWiki:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="56c32cf3e4b0b40245c7d18d" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Statue_of_Liberty.jpg" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="9" data-vars-position-in-unit="13">MediaWiki:</a><a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Iolaire" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Iolaire" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="56c32cf3e4b0b40245c7d18d" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Iolaire" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="10" data-vars-position-in-unit="14">Iolaire</a>)
#4 Santa Fe National Historic Trail(07 of11)
Open Image Modal
Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico and Oklahoma (credit:<a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Santa_Fe_Trail_sign_IMG_0516.JPG" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="MediaWiki:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="56c32cf3e4b0b40245c7d18d" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Santa_Fe_Trail_sign_IMG_0516.JPG" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="7" data-vars-position-in-unit="11">MediaWiki:</a><a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:File%20Upload%20Bot%20(Magnus%20Manske)" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske)" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="56c32cf3e4b0b40245c7d18d" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:File%20Upload%20Bot%20(Magnus%20Manske)" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="8" data-vars-position-in-unit="12">File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske)</a>)
#3 Alagnak Wild River, Alaska(08 of11)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alagnak_River_Rapids.jpg" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="MediaWiki:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="56c32cf3e4b0b40245c7d18d" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alagnak_River_Rapids.jpg" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="5" data-vars-position-in-unit="9">MediaWiki:</a><a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Pauk" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Pauk" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="56c32cf3e4b0b40245c7d18d" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Pauk" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="6" data-vars-position-in-unit="10">Pauk</a>)
#2 Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania(09 of11)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gettysburg_National_Military_Park_18.JPG" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="MediaWiki:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="56c32cf3e4b0b40245c7d18d" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gettysburg_National_Military_Park_18.JPG" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="3" data-vars-position-in-unit="7">MediaWiki:</a><a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Piotrus" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Piotrus" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="56c32cf3e4b0b40245c7d18d" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Piotrus" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="4" data-vars-position-in-unit="8">Piotrus</a>)
#1 Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, California(10 of11)
Open Image Modal
(credit:<a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kings_Canyon_National_Park_-_Kings_Canyon_from_Kings_Canyon_Scenic_Byway.JPG" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="MediaWiki:" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="56c32cf3e4b0b40245c7d18d" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kings_Canyon_National_Park_-_Kings_Canyon_from_Kings_Canyon_Scenic_Byway.JPG" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="1" data-vars-position-in-unit="5">MediaWiki:</a><a target="_blank" href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Mav" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Mav" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="56c32cf3e4b0b40245c7d18d" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Mav" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="2" data-vars-position-in-unit="6">Mav</a>)
(11 of11)
Open Image Modal
For even more lists, check out National Geographic's "The 10 Best Of Everything" on sale now.

Support HuffPost

At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.

Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.

Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your will go a long way.

Support HuffPost