What's 'superbloom' and when does it occur?

Yellow, orange and gold flowers have recently been forming carpets in areas throughout  Southern California, including the deserts, but does this mean that a "superbloom" is here?

While it doesn't have a single definition, "superbloom" refers to the time when stretches of desert across California and Arizona transform into dense fields of wildflowers, ABC7 reported.

This is because seeds lie dormant in the soil, then germinate and blossom.

Naomi Fraga, director of conservation programs at the California Botanic Garden, east of Los Angeles noted that a recent study found that such widespread blooms, that are even visible by satellite imagery in some years, occur after seasons with over 30% average precipitation.

Additionally, spring wildflowers usually peak in April, but in high-elevation places, they can continue to blossom later into the spring.

Unfortunately, despite receiving ample winter rains, experts believe that this year’s blooms haven’t been as vibrant or abundant as those that took over California last spring after drought-busting rains.

Furthermore, Fraga says that this year’s blooms aren’t as large or as dense as wildflowers in past years.

"When I think of superblooms, I think of a bloom that is so extraordinary, that’s a once in a lifetime event," Fraga said, adding that the wildflower display this year "still makes a beautiful show."

Last spring, Southern California’s Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve hosted dazzling orange displays of the state flower. 

However, this year, the orange blooms were absent in the fields, and officials reported that the window for an impressive show was becoming "increasingly narrow."