If you’ve ever fantasized what a field of bright orange poppies looks like from space –notably, a California super bloom – I’ve got just the thing for you.
Well, NASA does anyway because the space agency has released photographs presenting precisely that, using satellites deployed by its Space Observatory.
The images captured by the agency’s Operational Land Imager on April 14 show the blossoms at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve in all their beauty, with the poppies thought to be close to their peak at the time the pictures were taken.
As per a statement released by NASA, the flowers bloomed after Southern California received ‘significant’ rainfall in both March and April this year.
The statement proceeded :
This spring, Lancaster received around 10.5 inches (27 centimetres) of rain — almost 4 inches (10 centimetres) above normal. The extra rain may cause the poppies to stick around longer than usual and result in an above-average wildflower year.
Park officials called this bloom an ‘unexpected’ surprise due to the late-season rains.
You can see the satellite images below:
The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve is a state-ensured reserve of California, harbouring the most constant blooms of California poppies – the state flower – every year.
State park interpreter Jean Rhyne has recently stated the bloom time changes each year, including: ‘Generally, it happens early in April, but it can take place any time between mid-March and early May.’
While a bloom happens every year, a super bloom – an unusual phenomenon in which a curiously high proportion of wildflowers blossom at generally the same time – does not, making these images all that extraordinary.
