Kern County California

34.782838º N  • 118.831576º W

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A ride up the 5 Freeway north of Los Angeles is usually something to be avoided. Endless stretches of pavement between Santa Clarita Valley and the San Joaquin Valley. The toasty brown Topatopa mountains and endless mile markers roll past with monotonous regularity.

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That is, until one of the extremely rare springs hosting the "superbloom". These only happen once or twice per decade, and only following unusually heavy rains along with other specific conditions. Suddenly the landscape explodes with color. Dominated by the bright orange California poppy, lovely blue lupine and bluebells and the bright yellow brittle bush. It is truly breathtaking.