‘Don’t doom the bloom.’ Vibrant super blooms appearing in California come with warnings

Because of the heavy rainfall California had this winter, some state parks are blanketed in wildflowers — a phenomenon known as super blooms.

California State Parks is urging folks to come out and see the flourishing blooms, but it has some tips on how to do so respectfully.

“Don’t doom the bloom,” the department wrote in an April 14 Facebook post, while sharing a link to its website with tips for visiting.

Tips during your visit

First, visitors need to pull over when viewing the blooms, so as not to cause any traffic delays, park officials said.

Once it’s time to look at the flowers, visitors should “respect the landscapes,” the department’s website said.

To do so, guests should stay on the “designated trails whenever possible” and “tread lightly,” ensuring flowers aren’t being trampled, the department said.

Visitors should also only take photos, not flowers, the department said on Facebook.

To “help keep the landscapes pristine,” guests should not leave anything behind, the department said.

While dogs are permitted on some roads and campgrounds, they must be on a leash, officials said. Dogs are not allowed to join guests on hiking trails.

Drones are not permitted unless granted “special permission from individual state park units,” the department said.

Tips for before you go

California State Parks said visitors should understand the areas they plan to visit.

In some areas, cell service is limited, the department said, and guests should prepare for that.

They should also research the park they plan to visit before they get there and have a map on hand, as “many GPS and map apps will take you to dirt roads requiring 4-wheel drive vehicles,” officials said.

Before arriving, guests should also check the weather, the department said.

“Be prepared and plan for all types of weather,” officials said.

Lastly, state park officials urged visitors to know their own body’s limitations.

As “there are often no restaurants, gasoline stations or stores near the bloom areas,” visitors should come prepared with “plenty of food and water,” the department said.

To beat the crowds, guests are encouraged to plan to visit the parks during the week as opposed to the weekend, the department said.

“We definitely want people to come out and experience this rare occurrence that happens in nature but want them to be respectful,” Jorge Moreno, a spokesperson for California State Parks, told McClatchy News in early March.

To see which state parks are seeing blooms, visit California State Parks’ website. You can also find links to the parks’ specific social media pages, where you can find details about what, if any, blooms can be expected at each park.

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