What a difference a wet winter makes.

"It’s a fantastic year for wildflower lovers, who’ve been flocking to fields of poppies, lupine and golden brush. The orange, purple and yellow blooms are already populating the warmer climes of southern California and the Central Valley thanks to above average winter rainfall following five years of drought," writes Lindsey Hoshaw
Residents of Southern California (like me) can tell you that images of the so-called "Super Bloom" have been a near constant on social media in recent weeks, but the images shared in the article by Hoshaw offer a different perspective—the one from space. The series of before and after satellite images shows why "super" is such an appropriate way to describe California's spring bloom this year.
While the Super Bloom has exploded in places like Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Los Padres National Forest, other locations like Death Valley haven't been so fortunate. It's possible that locations farther north could still see a Super Bloom in June and July.
FULL STORY: Here’s What California’s Wildflower ‘Super Bloom’ Looks Like From Space

National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.

Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.

Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.

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Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
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