Individuals planning to visit California’s large swaths of wildflowers this spring should avoid stepping on blooms to ensure they can be enjoyed by future generations to come.
Vanesa Izadjou/California State University, Bakersfield
I know, the wildflowers look so beautiful that you want to run out into the middle of them and capture a perfect, social-media-worthy picture in the center of the superbloom. But in the midst of running, you stepped on hundreds of wildflowers that will most likely die and not reproduce seeds for next year’s blooms. On top of that, with each stride, your feet have compacted the soil. According to Bay Nature, compacted soil reduces the wildflower’s ability to absorb water and oxygen, meaning it will be difficult for next year’s wildflowers to grow again in those compacted areas. With the desire to capture beautiful moments on social media being ever-present these days, scenarios like this tend to occur frequently during California’s superblooms, leading to land degradation.
Right now, California is experiencing super blooms across the state. According to CA State Parks, high levels of rainfall this year, combined with the years of drought the state has been facing, has led to the magnificent displays of native wildflowers such as California poppies and lupine. Superblooms attract hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world, which means many pairs of feet are on these protected areas. To avoid dooming the bloom, it’s important to stay on the designated trail, and follow what signage is telling you. By doing so, you are ensuring your children will be able to view the magnificent sights you are also seeing.
I realize it seems like a no-brainer, but picking the wildflowers from a superbloom is also dooming the bloom. I get it, a bouquet of native California wildflowers would make the most beautiful Instagram post, but it wouldn’t help keep the environment beautiful. Picked wildflowers can’t be transplanted elsewhere as well, and tend to wilt quickly. Los Padres ForestWatch states that superbloom wildflowers are important sources of food for pollinators, who spread wildflowers by dropping the flowers’ seeds. Superblooms further help stabilize the soil, and provide shelter for various mammals, reptiles, and birds.
To further protect the blooms, be a good land stewardess! Midpeninsula Regional Open Space’s ‘Wildflower Viewing Etiquette’ includes following the rules of the parks/preserves you visit. Not sure what the specific rules are? A quick google search on your phone of the park you’re visiting will pull up any pertinent information that visitors need to know. While some people believe rules are made to be broken, park rules regarding superblooms should not be taken lightly. These rules are in place to ensure wildflowers, and the ecosystems they preside in, stay healthy for many more years in the future.
It’s understandable to want to capture beautiful photos of yourself in a sea of wildflowers, but running off of designated trails is against park rules. Doing so tramples wildflowers and compacts the soil, leaving superbloom areas worse off for animals and future visitors. By following suggestions to not ‘Doom the Bloom’, you are acting as a steward of California native plants, and conserving beauty for generations to come.
The B Side 
Hi,
I enjoyed your opinion story and agree that this is an important topic that should be covered every year as a reminder to our states visitors. As a fellow native Californian it makes me sad when I see people so willingly to trample over the flowers just for a photo but then say they love the wildflowers. To me if you really love the wildflowers you would enjoy their beauty in a safe manner without crushing them. I just hope that as we continue to have blooms of wildflowers more cities in the state continue to add protection to our wildflowers from people.
Wow, what a great story! I never took the time to realize how important it is to follow the rules while visiting blooming areas. Social media has become so popular that many will do anything to get the perfect photo to boost their likes so I can see why this can get overlooked. Thank you for sharing this. I will definitely remind others to be careful when visiting sceneries and to be kinder to nature.
How beautiful! Thank you for spreading the word, and helping make a change for the future generations of wildflowers to come. I was not aware of how delicate wild flowers are, or how there are super blooms. It does make so much sense after reading the article. I will be sure to watch my step whenever encountering these beauties.
I never thought about the fact that you could be stepping on all those wildflowers while trying to take selfies. That is so very true and logical.