I've got a soft spot for Death Valley National Park. A land of extremes, its geology is uniquely beautiful and its landscapes are dramatic and diverse, My preferred months to visit are December and January.

However, this year I made an exception and was there in early March. I got back a few days ago.

The dates were firm and set last October. Photography wasn't the primary driver for this trip, but since I was going to be in Southern California and less than five hours from the park, I made sure to build time for Death Valley into the schedule.

The calendar is an important part of the story. That and Lady Luck.

I was prepared for heat and got it. The thermometer climbed to 93 degrees on arrival day. That's what happens when you color outside the lines and show up in March!

What I didn't anticipate was a profusion of wildflowers throughout the valley. I figured I might encounter some blooms - it's that time of year, after all - but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw.

The place was exploding with color: vibrant yellows and purples, in some places as far as the eye could see. One of the hottest and driest places on earth was decorated with wildflowers.

I'd stepped into a Superbloom. It's been ten years since the last one in Death Valley.

The conditions have to be perfect in order for this to happen. Over the past six months, that's exactly what has occurred. Rainfall, temperatures and the wind have been "just right." Goldilocks would approve.

While the park sees most of its rainfall during the winter, September can also be wet if it's an active monsoon season. Last year, Death Valley received above-normal monsoonal precipitation.

During the winter, rainfall was evenly spaced and more abundant than usual, courtesy of El Niño. Somewhere along the way, a rainstorm of a half inch or more washed the protective coating off wildflower seeds, allowing them to sprout. There were no washouts, which is also important. The rain must fall gently and soak into the soil.

(Another sign of abundant precipitation can be found in Badwater Basin - the lowest point in North America. There, "Lake Manly" has temporarily returned: the result of significant rainstorms early in the year.)

In addition to vast fields filled with blooms, I saw flowers scattered everywhere - like these little Purple Phacelia in a wash, set against a backdrop of volcanic rock of a similar color:

As of yesterday, the park service says many of the low-elevation flowers are past peak, but there are still plenty of blooms to be found. Next, the show will gain altitude as it moves to higher elevations. Because that color will be away from the roadsides and further off in the distance, it'll be a different viewing experience, but still quite beautiful. Depending on temperatures and the wind, this "second act" could last through April.

I'm aware of people who dropped everything and drove many hours to Death Valley specifically for the Superbloom.

I, too, drove many hours to get to the park, but as mentioned above, my dates were set months ago.

Sometimes you get very lucky.