1.0The Living Desert Zoo and Gardenshttps://www.livingdesert.orgLT Dev Teamhttps://www.livingdesert.org/author/ltdevteam/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="WAqvYhZK55"><a href="https://www.livingdesert.org/zoo-news/gardens/a-super-time-for-desert-blooms/">A Super Time for Desert Blooms</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.livingdesert.org/zoo-news/gardens/a-super-time-for-desert-blooms/embed/#?secret=WAqvYhZK55" width="600" height="338" title="“A Super Time for Desert Blooms” — The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens" data-secret="WAqvYhZK55" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://www.livingdesert.org/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js /* ]]> */ </script> https://www.livingdesert.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Brittlebush.jpg450300Springtime in the desert is like no other place on earth and, here in the Coachella Valley when the flowers bloom, we are treated to a show of nature’s splendor that draws people from across the world. We occasionally have a "superbloom," a magnificent, heart stopping event that inspires us with the power of nature. To spur on the blooming, the desert needs rain in the fall to trigger germination and additional rains throughout the winter and spring to keep the plants growing. Some desert plant seeds can wait decades in the sandy soil for just the right conditions to bloom. These plants have relatively short lives, giving all their energy to grow and bloom just once.  These blossoms are delicate and the incredible sight of seeing thousands— even hundreds of thousands— of blooms draws us all to see them. Regretfully, the crowds going out to see them are contributing to a decline in their blooming. When people park their car in the fields or walk off the trails, they may not know the impact of disturbing where the seeds may have fallen for the next bloom cycle. Some even pick the flowers, removing them entirely from the ecosystem. Plants are the basis upon which the ecosystem is built. The superbloom plants are annuals, putting all their energy into growing flowers. The flowers support native pollinators, such as bees, moths, and birds, and their seeds support small animals and birds for years to come. These seeds are adapted to rest in the soil for years (some of them up to 40 years), until the conditions are right for them to create the next superbloom.