Home » Analysis & Comment » California’s ‘super bloom’: Selfie-seeking tourists flocking to see flowers in ‘unbearable weekend’
California’s ‘super bloom’: Selfie-seeking tourists flocking to see flowers in ‘unbearable weekend’
03/19/2019
Tourists armed with their selfie sticks are flocking to a California town by the thousands to get a glimpse of the rare occurrence known as the “super bloom,” making it “unbearable” for the locals.
The city of Lake Elsinore was plagued with nearly 150,000 people over the weekend who flocked to area to see orange patches of poppies carpeting the rolling hillsides, forcing the temporary closure of a canyon.
“We truly understand how difficult this natural phenomenon has been on our residents,” the city said on social media. “This is something unlike anything we have ever experienced in our City and may never again.”
IN PHOTOS: Flowers blanket Death Valley, driest place in North America
Things got so bad, the city declared it a “public safety crisis.”
“People are creating chaos out there and we have already had an injury,” the city said.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvMP0qWgxc_/
✨ No rain, no flowers.✨ All the rain and gloomy weather has resulted in the most beautiful burst of life. We had a chance to check out the most beautiful super bloom last weekend and it was just gorgeous. I almost let the goal of trying to get the perfect shot overshadow the rare beauty of nature I had the privilege of experiencing. Apparently, 50,000 people tried going this weekend! I wonder how many truly stopped and smelled the flowers vs. just trying to get the perfect shot? It’s a slippery slope and I work daily on not letting social media consume me. Some days are easier than others. How do you find balance? I’ll share in my stories later today what I’m doing to help me stay balanced. . . . . #SuperBloom #IG_Flowers #BHGFlowers #IHaveThisThingWithFlowers #blooooms #FlowersOfInstagram #VisitCalifornia
A post shared by Lucy | Organic Stylish Mom (@lucylou.and.co) on
Lake Elsinore had tried to prepare for the crush of people drawn by the super bloom, a rare occurrence, which began during the last week of February. The phenomenon usually happens about once a decade because it requires a wet winter and warm temperatures that stay above freezing.
It offered a free shuttle service to the top viewing spots, but it wasn’t enough.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvMg9hiFXQW/
Breaking rainfall brought a super bloom that covered Lake Elsinore's fields with bright-colored poppies! ? . . where is the most beautiful bloom places do you know? . . #lakeelsinore#elsinore#poppies#poppyfields#poppy#orange#blooming#wildbloom#superbloom#bloom#springblooms#spring#springvibe#calivibes#california#calilife#sandiego#southcali#travelusa#aroundtheworldpix
A post shared by Albina Mart | Fashion & Travel (@albina.mart) on
“The city has expended all available resources to address the #SuperBloom,” reads a post on social media. “We have brought in all available staff, as many outside traffic controllers that we could, more shuttles, and our small city can not sustain crowds of this magnitude – our city is not made for Disneyland size crowds.”
Speaking with the Associated Press, two photographers hired for an engagement shoot, said it was nearly impossible to get a photo without someone walking in the background. They said the place was also littered with trash.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvMbNu2n69y/
✨When it’s hard to get out of the woods find comfort in being lost. – Wilder✨ . . #poppies #sdlife #beautifulday #flowers #nature #hikelife #shewhowanders #thegreatoutdoors #photography #walkercanyon #lakeelainore #superbloom #sundayfunday #hikeadventures #freshairisgoodforthesoul #explorecalifornia #wanderlust #californiaadventure #californialove #socal
A post shared by ❣️???❣ (@norcalgirl619) on
“You see this beautiful pristine photo of nature, but then you look to the left and there’s plastic Starbucks cups and water bottles on the trail and selfie sticks and people having road rage because some people were walking slower,” the photographer described to the news agency.
A natural resources manager for Riverside County Parks told SFGATE people were trampling the flowers, just for a selfie.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvLRfxqngAC/
|| Poor poppy was found on the ground, almost trampled to death. Here's to you little guy, may you join your brethren in Plant Heaven || • • • • • • • #poppy #superbloom #walkercanyon #lakeelsinore #springtime #plantlivesmatter #poppyfields
A post shared by Matthew Catuna (@macatuna) on
“People love to get out there and get their Instagram photos,” Jonathan Reinig said. “They’ll plop themselves in the middle and trample the flowers. People need to stay on the path.”
This is why we can’t have things. Here’s a look at some photos of the “super bloom.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvLOoJlgtVJ/
#poppy season in #california #nofilter #socal #nature #howboutdat #orangeCounty @hdpm28
A post shared by cduffy6671 (@cduffy6671) on
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvLKxVlgpPa/
Painted landscape with flowers. No poppies were harmed in the taking of this photo.
A post shared by French Cat ? (@french_cat_lawrenz) on
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvLHal9l8qS/
Probably the most amazing flower bloom I’ve ever seen! Worth getting up super early to beat the crowds! So speaking of crowds, never seen so many disrespectful tourists in my life. If you go out there, respect the trails, stay on the trails, pick up your trash and obey no trespassing signs! . . . . . . . . . . #hiking #neverstopexploring #hikinglife #adventure #landscape #landscape_captures #landscapes #landscape_lovers #californiaadventure #california #naturelovers #outdoor #view #nature #flowers #wildflower #wildflowers #scenic #scenicview #modernoutdoors #spring #springflowers #poppy #poppies #wildflowers #bluesky #blueskies #naturephotography #superbloom2019 #walkercanyon #getoutside
A post shared by D E B B I E K E O U G H (@debbiekeough) on
I first heard about the superbloom a few years ago. Being a nature lover, I added it to my bucket list. I could never find anyone that wanted to go with me… so when I knew it was happening this year, I just got in my car and started driving. While I was sleeping in my car that night I thought… is this really worth it? Sitting in traffic again the thought crossed my mind. Then I got there and climbed the hills. Totally worth it ? . . . . . #superbloom #supernatural #poppy #poppyfields #flowers #spring #sunset #nature #naturephotography #naturelovers #nature_perfection #intothewild #wildbumming #travel #travelphotography #backpackerstory #californiaadventure #california #visitcalifornia #rawcalifornia #naturalcalifornia #california4fun #californialove #californiadreaming #optoutside #roamtheplanet #beautifuldestinations #welivetoexplore #neverstopexploring #wanderlust
A post shared by Tracy Mills (@adventuresoftracyjean) on
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvLAcpBDovi/
We have witnessed so called “super bloom” today and it looked like something straight up from impressionist art piece , absolutely beautiful ??? #nofilterneeded#walkercanyon#poppyfield#socal#orange#purple#superbloom#spring#beautifulnature#beautiful#southcalifornia#cali#impressionism#instagood#instaphoto#
A post shared by Anna Lobadin- Hayrapetyan (@labellaanushka) on
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Home » Analysis & Comment » California’s ‘super bloom’: Selfie-seeking tourists flocking to see flowers in ‘unbearable weekend’
California’s ‘super bloom’: Selfie-seeking tourists flocking to see flowers in ‘unbearable weekend’
Tourists armed with their selfie sticks are flocking to a California town by the thousands to get a glimpse of the rare occurrence known as the “super bloom,” making it “unbearable” for the locals.
The city of Lake Elsinore was plagued with nearly 150,000 people over the weekend who flocked to area to see orange patches of poppies carpeting the rolling hillsides, forcing the temporary closure of a canyon.
“We truly understand how difficult this natural phenomenon has been on our residents,” the city said on social media. “This is something unlike anything we have ever experienced in our City and may never again.”
IN PHOTOS: Flowers blanket Death Valley, driest place in North America
Things got so bad, the city declared it a “public safety crisis.”
“People are creating chaos out there and we have already had an injury,” the city said.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvMP0qWgxc_/
✨ No rain, no flowers.✨ All the rain and gloomy weather has resulted in the most beautiful burst of life. We had a chance to check out the most beautiful super bloom last weekend and it was just gorgeous. I almost let the goal of trying to get the perfect shot overshadow the rare beauty of nature I had the privilege of experiencing. Apparently, 50,000 people tried going this weekend! I wonder how many truly stopped and smelled the flowers vs. just trying to get the perfect shot? It’s a slippery slope and I work daily on not letting social media consume me. Some days are easier than others. How do you find balance? I’ll share in my stories later today what I’m doing to help me stay balanced. . . . . #SuperBloom #IG_Flowers #BHGFlowers #IHaveThisThingWithFlowers #blooooms #FlowersOfInstagram #VisitCalifornia
A post shared by Lucy | Organic Stylish Mom (@lucylou.and.co) on
Lake Elsinore had tried to prepare for the crush of people drawn by the super bloom, a rare occurrence, which began during the last week of February. The phenomenon usually happens about once a decade because it requires a wet winter and warm temperatures that stay above freezing.
It offered a free shuttle service to the top viewing spots, but it wasn’t enough.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvMg9hiFXQW/
Breaking rainfall brought a super bloom that covered Lake Elsinore's fields with bright-colored poppies! ? . . where is the most beautiful bloom places do you know? . . #lakeelsinore#elsinore#poppies#poppyfields#poppy#orange#blooming#wildbloom#superbloom#bloom#springblooms#spring#springvibe#calivibes#california#calilife#sandiego#southcali#travelusa#aroundtheworldpix
A post shared by Albina Mart | Fashion & Travel (@albina.mart) on
“The city has expended all available resources to address the #SuperBloom,” reads a post on social media. “We have brought in all available staff, as many outside traffic controllers that we could, more shuttles, and our small city can not sustain crowds of this magnitude – our city is not made for Disneyland size crowds.”
Speaking with the Associated Press, two photographers hired for an engagement shoot, said it was nearly impossible to get a photo without someone walking in the background. They said the place was also littered with trash.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvMbNu2n69y/
✨When it’s hard to get out of the woods find comfort in being lost. – Wilder✨ . . #poppies #sdlife #beautifulday #flowers #nature #hikelife #shewhowanders #thegreatoutdoors #photography #walkercanyon #lakeelainore #superbloom #sundayfunday #hikeadventures #freshairisgoodforthesoul #explorecalifornia #wanderlust #californiaadventure #californialove #socal
A post shared by ❣️???❣ (@norcalgirl619) on
“You see this beautiful pristine photo of nature, but then you look to the left and there’s plastic Starbucks cups and water bottles on the trail and selfie sticks and people having road rage because some people were walking slower,” the photographer described to the news agency.
A natural resources manager for Riverside County Parks told SFGATE people were trampling the flowers, just for a selfie.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvLRfxqngAC/
|| Poor poppy was found on the ground, almost trampled to death. Here's to you little guy, may you join your brethren in Plant Heaven || • • • • • • • #poppy #superbloom #walkercanyon #lakeelsinore #springtime #plantlivesmatter #poppyfields
A post shared by Matthew Catuna (@macatuna) on
“People love to get out there and get their Instagram photos,” Jonathan Reinig said. “They’ll plop themselves in the middle and trample the flowers. People need to stay on the path.”
This is why we can’t have things. Here’s a look at some photos of the “super bloom.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvLOoJlgtVJ/
#poppy season in #california #nofilter #socal #nature #howboutdat #orangeCounty @hdpm28
A post shared by cduffy6671 (@cduffy6671) on
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvLKxVlgpPa/
Painted landscape with flowers. No poppies were harmed in the taking of this photo.
A post shared by @ travelhobbyist on
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvLJEd1Bk_9/
Still giving me butterflies. ???#SuperBloom #WildCalifornia #WalkerCanyonPoppyFields #MotherNature #PoppyFields #Poppies – – – #adventure #wanderlust #vacation #travelgram #explore #holiday #travels #traveler #traveller #traveling #travelling #travelphotography #travelingram #travelblog #travelblogger #traveladdict #tourism #mytravelgram #tourist
A post shared by French Cat ? (@french_cat_lawrenz) on
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvLHal9l8qS/
Probably the most amazing flower bloom I’ve ever seen! Worth getting up super early to beat the crowds! So speaking of crowds, never seen so many disrespectful tourists in my life. If you go out there, respect the trails, stay on the trails, pick up your trash and obey no trespassing signs! . . . . . . . . . . #hiking #neverstopexploring #hikinglife #adventure #landscape #landscape_captures #landscapes #landscape_lovers #californiaadventure #california #naturelovers #outdoor #view #nature #flowers #wildflower #wildflowers #scenic #scenicview #modernoutdoors #spring #springflowers #poppy #poppies #wildflowers #bluesky #blueskies #naturephotography #superbloom2019 #walkercanyon #getoutside
A post shared by D E B B I E K E O U G H (@debbiekeough) on
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvLGQgIFRsi/
poppy field – super bloom . #photography #photograpyislife #photographylovers #socalphotographer #photographyeveryday #natgeotravel #naturephotography #picoftheday #igdaily #california #sonya6000 #photographer #world_photography_hub #prophotographyclub #ig_worldphoto #socal #cali #worldtravelpics #superbloom #lonelyplanettraveller #sdphotographer #poppyfields #lakeelsinore #lakeelsinorepoppies #flowers #springblooms #walkercanyon #blossoming
A post shared by @ blackrooster9 on
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvLE5ochsTM/
I first heard about the superbloom a few years ago. Being a nature lover, I added it to my bucket list. I could never find anyone that wanted to go with me… so when I knew it was happening this year, I just got in my car and started driving. While I was sleeping in my car that night I thought… is this really worth it? Sitting in traffic again the thought crossed my mind. Then I got there and climbed the hills. Totally worth it ? . . . . . #superbloom #supernatural #poppy #poppyfields #flowers #spring #sunset #nature #naturephotography #naturelovers #nature_perfection #intothewild #wildbumming #travel #travelphotography #backpackerstory #californiaadventure #california #visitcalifornia #rawcalifornia #naturalcalifornia #california4fun #californialove #californiadreaming #optoutside #roamtheplanet #beautifuldestinations #welivetoexplore #neverstopexploring #wanderlust
A post shared by Tracy Mills (@adventuresoftracyjean) on
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvLAcpBDovi/
We have witnessed so called “super bloom” today and it looked like something straight up from impressionist art piece , absolutely beautiful ??? #nofilterneeded#walkercanyon#poppyfield#socal#orange#purple#superbloom#spring#beautifulnature#beautiful#southcalifornia#cali#impressionism#instagood#instaphoto#
A post shared by Anna Lobadin- Hayrapetyan (@labellaanushka) on
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvKwPZqFbOr/
#superbloom
A post shared by Mike Grimm (@mikegrimm1980) on
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