Death Valley wildflower super-bloom ahead?

This could be a good year for widespread wildflower blooms in Death Valley National Park.

It may even be a rare super-bloom year.

I had the good fortune to visit a warm sunny Death Valley this week. The two-day spin-off from my Vegas trip was well worth the two hour drive.

Yes, sunshine and 78 degrees feels good to a Minnesota weather guy in late February. I thought I'd take the opportunity to share some photos and weather angles from a warm sunny place with you as we endure the tail end of another Minnesota winter. Even on winter vacation I can't resist sharing a good (warm) weather story.

Hottest. Driest. Lowest.

That's the catch phrase for one of the world's most extreme climates. Death Valley is a unique landscape. Standing amidst the vastness of the seemingly endless valley the first thing that hits you is the silence. No trees to rustle in the wind. No bug noises. No birds.

With just 2.36 inches of precipitation a year on average, Death Valley is one of the driest places on earth. The unique topography of this long narrow desert valley 200 feet below sea level with abruptly rising mountains on each side is the perfect microclimate for extreme heat in summer.

Anatomy of a super-bloom

The last super-bloom event occurred a decade ago in 2005 when the usually barren valley transformed into a sprawling carpet of color.

It is interesting that late summer and fall rains contribute to the spectacular blooms the next spring. Additional winter rains boost the process. Here's more from the National Park Service on what makes a good bloom year.

Death Valley is famous for its spectacular, spring wildflower displays, but those are the exception, not the rule. Only under perfect conditions does the desert fill with a sea of gold, purple, pink or white flowers. Although there are years where blossoms are few, they are never totally absent.

Fleeting Beauty

Most of the showy desert wildflowers are annuals, also referred to asephemerals because they are short-lived. Oddly enough, this limited lifespan ensures survival here. Rather than struggle to stay alive during the desert’s most extreme conditions, annual wildflowers lie dormant as seeds. When enough rain finally does fall, the seeds quickly sprout, grow, bloom and go back to seed again before the dryness and heat returns. By blooming enmasse during good years, wildflowers can attract large numbers of pollinators such as butterflies, moths, bees and hummingbirds that might not otherwise visit Death Valley.

A good wildflower year depends on at least three things:

• Well-spaced rainfall throughout the winter and spring

• Sufficient warmth from the sun

• Lack of drying winds

Rain is Key

Deep soaking, gentle rain is essential for a desert floral display. To begin, a rainstorm of a half inch or more is needed to wash the protective coating off wildflower seeds and allow them to sprout.

For plants to continue growing, rainstorms must come at evenly-spaced intervals throughout the winter and spring. The best blooms are triggered by an early, winter-type rainstorm in September or October, followed by an El Niño weather pattern that brings above average rainfall to the Desert Southwest.

Rainfall came last fall for Death Valley with more than a half inch in September and again in December.

Last weekend's weather system brought a .26 inch rainfall to Death Valley, with higher totals at elevation and significant mountain snow. The next system spins into the desert southwest this weekend brings more rain and mountain snow the Death Valley and the Las Vegas area.

The additional rainfall and runoff from higher elevations snows should help boost the chances of a strong wildflower show this spring.

Sleeper vacation spot

Let's face it, you might not consider someplace named "Death Valley" as a garden vacation spot. But this gem of a national park is actually a pretty amazing locale to spend a few days soaking up the sun.

The Inn is very nice, and the Ranch at Furnace Creek is more laid back. The Ranch boasts a golf course, and even a delightful warm spring-fed pool full of minerals from the once mined valley floor. Good tonic for the winter weary soul.

Keep an eye on Death Valley and the potential for a strong wildflower year this spring.