美国国家公共电台 NPR--Wildflowers are popping up across the Western United States

Wildflowers are popping up across the Western United States

Transcript¹

A wet winter in parts of California and Arizona means an epic² wildflower season. In some areas the so-called "superbloom" can be seen from space.

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Wildflowers are popping up across the western United States, blanketing the hills of Arizona and Southern California in brilliant colors. This year, the so-called superbloom is so big it can be seen in satellite images from space.

A MART?NEZ, HOST:

But what exactly defines a superbloom? Nick Jensen, conservation program director with the California Native Plant Society, has the answer.

NICK JENSEN: It's a phenomenon in which there are large numbers of wildflowers - typically annuals - that grace large swaths of the state in selected areas where those conditions are favorable in years with good rainfall.

MARTIN: But rain is not the only essential ingredient to a successful superbloom season.

JENSEN: One of the things that has to be in place is a seed bank.

MART?NEZ: And those seed banks might be lurking³ in places you would not expect. So picture this. You're taking a walk through Death Valley, one of the hottest places on Earth, but just below your burning footsies...

JENSEN: You're probably walking over thousands and thousands of wildflower seeds. And the seeds are essentially⁴ live plants in a state of dormancy⁵ hanging out in the soil, waiting for the conditions to be right.

MARTIN: Jensen says when the temperature is right and there are not invasive plant species to compete with, the seeds have a better chance to sprout⁶. Oh, and, of course, it takes a lot of water.

JENSEN: And voila. We have a wonderful display of wildflowers.

MART?NEZ: Now, if you're planning to visit the blooms, Jensen asks that you educate yourself about the plants and watch where you step.

JENSEN: So they don't pop their picnic blanket out on a population of rare plants or beautiful wildflowers. You know, is this just a bunch of poppies or is this a diversity of plants?

MARTIN: Jensen believes that if visitors engage with the environment in a safe and thoughtful way, it will help protect these flowers for years to come.

(SOUNDBITE OF ACOUSTIC VALLEY'S "FLOWERS (INSTRUMENTAL)")

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 epic   

n.史诗，叙事诗；adj.史诗般的，壮丽的

参考例句：

• I gave up my epic and wrote this little tale instead.我放弃了写叙事诗，而写了这个小故事。
• They held a banquet of epic proportions.他们举行了盛大的宴会。

3 lurking   

潜在

参考例句：

• Why are you lurking around outside my house? 你在我房子外面鬼鬼祟祟的，想干什么？
• There is a suspicious man lurking in the shadows. 有一可疑的人躲在阴暗中。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

5 dormancy   

n.睡眠，冬眠，隐匿

参考例句：

• During dormancy the plants must be kept very dry. 在休眠期，植物必须保持非常干燥。 来自辞典例句
• It may also come to the point of virtual dormancy. 它也可以达到实际上的潜伏状态。 来自辞典例句

6 sprout   

n.芽，萌芽；vt.使发芽，摘去芽；vi.长芽，抽条

参考例句：

• When do deer first sprout horns?鹿在多大的时候开始长出角？
• It takes about a week for the seeds to sprout.这些种子大约要一周后才会发芽。