by Patrice Green

This is a different kind of blog post than my usual entry, but this topic has so fired my imagination that I had to write about it.  There is current speculation that the annual spring bloom in Death Valley this year has the potential to become a “superbloom.”  Yes, flowers do bloom in the desert, but superblooms are rare occurrences, perhaps happening once in a decade. During a superbloom the seeds that have lain dormant, sometimes for many years, have the perfect conditions and bloom simultaneously and for an extended period of time, with the plants often getting quite large.  For a superbloom to occur, there needs to be enough sunlight and warmth, the absence of drying winds, and enough rainfall spaced at regular intervals throughout the winter and spring.  El Nino conditions are required to keep the plants growing.  There is a terrific article on the subject here.

As an herbalist I’m constantly amazed by the power, resilience and beauty of the plants we work and live with on a regular basis.  As a flower essence practitioner, I know that plants will communicate with those willing to receive their messages and teachings.  These teachings are different than the lessons learned when taking a tea or a tincture.  I often liken it to a different facet of the plant’s personality.  Herbs taken internally will work on your physical body as much as your emotions.  Flower essences, however, well - those teachings in my experience are much deeper, going directly into the psyche and spirit.  Flower essences work energetically and do so quite quickly, generally speaking. So, given that background, you surely can see where I’m going with this. 

The temperatures in Death Valley drop below 100 in mid October until rising again to triple digits in the middle of April. The temperature range this past several days has been as low as 42 in the mountains and as high as 86 at Furnace Creek. This is considered chilly winter weather here in the hottest spot on the planet. The record temperature at Furnace Creek was 134°F on July 10, 1913.  January 8th of that same year the temperature was recorded at 15 degrees. That’s quite a spread in seven months. Imagine some version of that being repeated for many, many years until finally the perfect conditions for transformation arrive, allowing the dormant seeds to crack, sprout and seemingly suddenly appear in full bloom.

What do these specific plant spirits have to teach us mere mortals? What does it take to survive, and ultimately thrive in that environment? What knowledge is gained from living in such adverse conditions?  After a superbloom the seeds of the plants return to their dormant state and await the next perfect storm to bloom again. What lessons lie within that time frame?  What inspiration and lessons are here for those of us dealing with a challenging cycle of life experiences?

Even the most seemingly fragile creatures have hidden resources that allow them to survive and even thrive in harsh environments. 

It is illegal to harvest plants in Death Valley because it would disrupt the re-seeding process, however flower essences are often made without harm to the plant, so it is possible to make essences from superbloom plants.  You may not see me for a while, as I might need to take a trip out west.  I hear our desert friends calling to me!...