CLUSTER II - THE OASIS

A desert bloom is a climatic phenomenon that occurs in various deserts around the world. The phenomenon consists of the blossoming of a wide variety of flowers during early-mid spring in years when rainfall is unusually high. The blossoming occurs when the unusual level of rainfall reaches seeds and bulbs that have been in a latent or dormant state, and causes them to germinate and flower in early spring. It is accompanied by the proliferation of birds, lizards, insects,  and butterflies.

 

About every second or third spring, and in about one autumn in ten, people flock to the California Desert in search of the fabled desert bloom. That's when the desert's native plants take advantage of recent rains, if any, to put out flowers in a desperate attempt to reproduce by setting seed. Even a moderately abundant bloom can be well worth your attention, as the desert's usually earth-toned landscape sports accents in yellow, purple, pink, and orange. But desert plants aren't the only living things adding a bit of color to the desert as they attempt to pass on their genes to a next generation

Where there are desert flowers, in other words, there are desert butterflies

​

The butterfly has been a symbol of transformation, hope and faith for thousands of years. The butterfly is also a symbol of rebirth, since it goes through so many life cycles - from larva to caterpillar to chrysallis and finally to a beautiful, flying butterfly