Even for a state where a certain amount of weather-related chaos is normal, this winter in California felt relentless. There were catastrophic floods, mudslides, walls of snow, destructive waves, downed trees and, now, potholes left behind by the storms. So it was a genuine pleasure to report this week on a colorful reprieve from all this gloom: Wildflowers are bursting into view, painting the landscape with vibrant shades of orange, yellow and purple. The lush displays unfurling across California’s public lands have received most of the attention. Throngs of flower-seekers have lined up to visit sites like the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Source: New York Times April 21, 2023 13:29 UTC