Colours of the sun

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In deserts all around the world, when climatic conditions are just right, there’s a natural phenomenon known as a super bloom. An exceptional explosion of wildflowers – it’s currently happening right here in Kuwait, as well as in the Mojave Desert in California, with usually barren tracts of desert coming alive with vibrant greenery and carpets of colorful blossoms.

This winter’s abundant rainfall, which began with some incredible deluges in November, has satisfied one of several conditions that produce a super bloom. In order to wash the protective coating off wildflower seeds and allow them to sprout, a rainstorm of a half-inch or more is required. Other conditions needed are sufficient warmth from the sun and lack of drying winds.

The Death Valley page of the California National Park Service website (www.nps.gov) points out that “most of the showy desert wildflowers are annuals, also referred to as ephemerals because they are short-lived. Oddly enough, this limited lifespan ensures survival … Rather than struggle to stay alive during the desert’s most extreme conditions, annual wildflowers lie dormant as seeds. When enough rain finally does fall, the seeds quickly sprout, grow, bloom and go back to seed again before the dryness and heat returns.”

Kuwait’s climate is similar to that of Death Valley in California so we witness the same pattern of desert wildflower growth. The website states that by blooming en masse during years of favorable conditions, wildflowers can attract large numbers of pollinators such as butterflies, moths, bees and birds that might not otherwise visit the region.

This was observed in the desert behind the beach chalets in Al Zor, where masses of Monarch butterflies were fluttering among the blooms. Bees and moths were also present, as was a very rare visitor, a tiny hummingbird that darted in out of the bushy seliyh plant, sticking its long needle-like beak into the small lavender-colored flowers.

The coastal dunes have been transformed into sandy meadows, with bright bunches of white, yellow, gold, lavender, red, and purple flowers, delicate grasses, and lush green bushes. A wide variety of desert daisies form cheerful bouquets including yellow murrar (Leontodon laciniatus) and nuwair (Senecio glaucus) and white desert daisies (Anthemis deserti) with golden centers.

Desert hyacinths (Cistanche tubulosa) push their way up through the sand. Their colors range from yellow and purple to mauve, pink and blue. They’re actually very pretty parasites whose host is the salt bush.

The humaith plant (Rumex vesicarius) adds bright patches of red to the landscape. Its “petals” are actually membranes that protect the plant’s fruit. There are even a few delicate desert poppies (Roemeria hybride) blooming. Their paper-like petals are a deep, luxurious shade of purple that fly away if there’s a strong breeze.

Arfaj bushes (Rhanterium epapposum) are bursting into bloom with their small, round golden blossoms. Throughout the long, hot summer the bush has dry, bare branches and looks like it’s dead. In spring, small, slim leaves appear along with the blossoms.

Before the oil era, Arfaj used to cover vast tracts of desert in Kuwait and was one of the principal sources of fuel for cooking fires. It is Kuwait’s national flower and is becoming very rare.

Other blooms that used to be seen in this area after abundant winter rains are missing altogether this season. During the super bloom of 2005 there were exquisite desert irises (Gynandriris sisyrinchium) ranging in color from the palest lilac to deep amethyst. Miniature lemon-colored lilies, known as the Star of Bethlehem (Gagea reticulate) grew in groups of three or five, forming dainty bouquets. Those who looked closely could spot the petite Blue Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) boasting five sky-blue petals with darker blue and magenta at their base, a white centre, and a bright golden stamen.

Ein Al Deek, or the Rooster’s Eye, (Adonis dentatum) hadn’t been seen in many years and was thought to have been extinct, until it bloomed here in 2005. Sadly, since then it has never been sighted again.

The National Park Service website explains that frequent windstorms without additional rain can bring about a quick end to the spring desert bloom or even prevent it from happening by killing off delicate sprouts. “Dry, moving air dehydrates exposed surfaces of all living things, including human beings. Desert plants often have waxy, hairy or spiny leaves to baffle the wind and retain precious moisture. Humans carry and drink water as needed, but the wildflowers grow and bloom only until they dry out (or late-spring heat arrives), leaving seeds scattered on the desert floor to produce the next generation.”

Ultimately more destructive than windstorms are wide-scale man-made abuses: pollution and the dumping of garbage and building rubble in the desert; camping in large areas over long time periods; and driving across the land in buggies, dirt bikes, cars, and trucks. Shoots and seeds are destroyed and the land is compacted to such a degree that it can’t absorb rainwater and nothing can grow.

In the coastal dunes of Al Zor, flora and fauna must also battle to survive the ravages of man, with vegetation sprouting out among piles of concrete blocks, ceramic tiles, broken glass, and other destructive eyesores.

But despite the many challenges to Kuwait’s fragile ecosystem, this season the desert has once again managed to produce a super bloom. With this rare display of vibrant greenery and the sweet scent of a myriad of wildflowers, we can enjoy a brief but glorious desert spring.

Story and photographs by Claudia Farkas Al Rashoud

Special to the Arab Times

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