ニューヨーク・タイムズさんのインスタグラム写真 - (ニューヨーク・タイムズInstagram)「The superbloom in California this spring has provided an extraordinary opportunity for botanists to search for rare wildflowers that have long been dormant. Flower species that haven’t been seen in years often emerge after unusually wet spells. The relentless rain this past winter produced a bounty of flowers across the state, delighting residents with vibrant color in places like the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, where visitors have lined up to take selfies with the displays. To Naomi Fraga, a botanist with the nonprofit California Botanic Garden in Claremont, the wet winter meant the chance — in some cases, the only chance in decades — to document the existence of rare plant species so that they might be saved from the brink of extinction. The botanists’ ultimate goal is to secure endangered or rare species designations for the most threatened plants. But in order to get these designations, Dr. Fraga and her colleagues must first prove that the plants still exist. “I just wish we could do more,” Dr. Fraga said. “We keep talking about the extinction crisis, but we only know if things are going extinct if you keep track of them.” The photographer @danieldorsa joined Dr. Fraga and her students on a trip in search of a species known as the Kelso Creek monkeyflower, the blossoms of which are half golden-yellow and half rich maroon. Tap the link in our bio to see what they found on the trip and to learn more about the effort to save rare wildflowers.」5月23日 8時18分