In Photos: The Fall Wildflower Bloom

By Ellie Nan Storck

September 19, 2016

Credit: George Oze/Alamy

Most people associate fall with arrival of vibrant foliage; spectacular reds, oranges, and yellows blanket towns around the world while tree-lined roads are set ablaze by the changing leaves. But often-overlooked are the the wildflower blooms that happen in destinations across the planet. It might seem unusual—flowers blooming in the fall, rather than in the spring or summer—but these blossoms are well worth planning an autumn trip around.

From the deserts of California to southern Scotland, from Tasmania to Azerbaijan, beautiful wildflowers pop up all over the world at the end of the summer: and we're willing to bet you'll find them just as fantastic as the foliage-covered towns in New England. So if you were planning that fall road trip just based on where to do the best leaf peeping, check out the photos below. You may very well want to add a few destinations to your itinerary.

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Owens River Valley, CA

Credit: Ron and Patty Thomas/Getty Images

Every year in California's Owens River Valley, Rabbitbrush and fall cottonwoods bloom in beautiful shades of yellow.

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Dumfries, Scotland

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During autumn in Dumfries, Scotland, a blanket of white wildflowers covers the forest floor.

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Norland, West Yorkshire, UK.

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The evergreen heather shrub blooms every year in Norland, West Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. The effect is a purple carpet, usually in the moorland areas.