Super bloom: Spectacular spring flowers of 2017
A prolonged drought in Southern California gave way to heavy winter rains in 2016, leading to an explosion of wildflowers across the region.
But California isn’t the only state in bloom. Some blossoms came early because of unusually warm weather, and some came right on time along with the arrival of spring.
Here, California poppies and Canterbury bells bloom at Diamond Valley Lake, near Hemet, Calif., in mid-March 2017.
Diamond Valley Lake in California
Canterbury bells bloom at Diamond Valley Lake, near Hemet, Calif., in mid-March 2017. Winter storms brought relief to most of the region suffering years of record drought conditions.
Washington, D.C.
Warmer-than-usual weather led to the early bloom of tulip magnolia trees in Washington, D.C., in late February 2017.
New York
Flowers bloom at a farmers market in Union Square on the first day of spring 2017, in New York City.
Diamond Valley Lake in California
Canterbury bells debut during one of the biggest wildflower blooms in years at Diamond Valley Lake, near Hemet, Calif., in mid-March 2017.
Big Bend National Park, Texas
A torrey yucca plant blooms in Big Bend National Park in January 2017.
Native Americans would eat the flowers, fruits and seeds from this plant, and use the leaves to make clothing and sandals.
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Tansyleaf aster blooms in Big Bend National Park in February 2017.
Chino Hills State Park, California
Wildflowers bloom at Chino Hills State Park in Chino Hills, Calif., in March 2017.
Carlsbad, California
Giant tecolote ranunculus flowers flourish in Carlsbad, Calif., on the first day of spring 2017.
Taft, California
Hillside daisies cover the ground in the Carrizo Plain National Monument near Taft, California, during a wildflower super bloom in April 2017.
Big Bend National Park, Texas
A spiny-fruited cactus blooms in Big Bend National Park in Texas in April 2017.
This cactus is known to grow only in hot, dry limestone.
Diamond Valley Lake in California
A caterpillar climbs on flowers at Diamond Valley Lake, near Hemet, Calif., in March 2017.
Big Bend National Park, Texas
A Mexican buckeye plant blooms in Big Bend National Park in March 2017. The fragrant flowers attract bees and butterflies.
Taft, California
Checker fiddleneck are seen in the Carrizo Plain National Monument near Taft, California, during a wildflower super bloom in April 2017.
Lake Elsinore, California
An unusually wet winter in Lake Elsinore, Calif., sparked a massive spring wildflower bloom in mid-March 2017.
Diamond Valley Lake in California
Chias and California poppies, which remain closed until warmed by direct sunlight, bloom at Diamond Valley Lake, near Hemet, Calif., in March 2017.
Big Bend National Park, Texas
A Mexican navelseed, which is related to forget-me-nots, blooms in Big Bend National Park in Texas.
Diamond Valley Lake in California
California goldfields are surrounded by California poppies at Diamond Valley Lake, near Hemet, Calif., in March 2017.
Big Bend National Park, Texas
This lyre-leaf twist flower is one of many blooms that appeared earlier than usual in Big Bend National Park in Texas in March 2017.
Anza-Borrego State Park, California
Wildflowers bloom in Anza-Borrego State Park in California in March 2017.
Washington, D.C.
Snow and ice cover early blooms on trees near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., in March 2017.
Taft, California
Flowers bloom at Carrizo Plain National Monument near Taft, California, in April 2017.
Big Bend National Park, Texas
A prickly pear cactus blooms in Big Bend National Park in February 2017. Usually, these cacti reach peak bloom in late April.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
Wildflowers bloom in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California in mid-March 2017.
Washington, D.C.
People walk under blooming cherry trees along the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C., in late March 2017.
Taft, California
A desert candle flower is seen in the Carrizo Plain National Monument near Taft, California, during a wildflower super bloom in April 2017.
Diamond Valley Lake in California
Rancher’s fiddlenecks bloom at Diamond Valley Lake, near Hemet, Calif., in March 2017.
Lancaster, California
Visitors walk among the poppy bloom at Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve in Lancaster, California.
Washington, D.C.
Cherry blossoms in bloom near the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., in March 2017.
Borrego Springs, California
A girl climbs on rocks surrounded by blooming desert shrubs in Borrego Springs, California, in March 2017.
Taft, California
Tidy tips wildflowers are seen in the Carrizo Plain National Monument near Taft, California, during a wildflower super bloom in April 2017.
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Bluebonnets, which tend to bloom between February and April, are seen in early February in Big Bend National Park in Texas.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
A huge spring wildflower bloom is seen in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Calif., in mid-March 2017.
Washington, D.C.
Cherry blossoms bloom at the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C., in late March 2017.
Seattle
Daffodils bloom near the Space Needle on a sunny and rain-free first day of spring 2017 in Seattle, Washington.
Taft, California
Wildflowers are seen in the Carrizo Plain National Monument near Taft, California, during a wildflower super bloom in April 2017.
Big Bend National Park, Texas
A rainbow cactus blooms on rocky limestone slopes in Big Bend National Park in March 2017.
Diamond Valley Lake in California
A bee pollinates Canterbury bells at Diamond Valley Lake, near Hemet, Calif., in March 2017.
Washington, D.C.
Trees bloom in Washington, D.C., in March 2017.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California
The buds of wildflowers bloom in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Calif., in March 2017.
Taft, California
Bicolor lupine flower flourishes in the Carrizo Plain National Monument near Taft, California, during a wildflower super bloom in April 2017.
Diamond Valley Lake in California
A fisherman passes arroyo lupines on a early morning in mid-March 2017 at Diamond Valley Lake, near Hemet, Calif.
Diamond Valley Lake in California
A hiker passes flowers at Diamond Valley Lake, near Hemet, Calif., in March 2017.
Diamond Valley Lake in California
Chias bloom at Diamond Valley Lake, near Hemet, Calif., in March 2017.
Lancaster, California
Poppies bloom at Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve in March 2017 in Lancaster, California.
Washington, D.C.
Cherry trees in peak bloom in late March 2017 in Washington, D.C. These blossoms survived after a late winter ice and snowstorm froze and killed more than 50 percent of the developed Yoshino cherry blossoms two weeks earlier.