Because of the ample spring rain in California, this year is a super bloom for wildflowers. A super bloom occurs only once in ten years. There are many places to see the wildflower blooms. Poppies are nearing the end of their bloom season, but wildflowers in California bloom according to elevation and how far north they are. So if you miss the poppies don’t cry, peak season for wildflower blooms in the High Sierras is in June and July and starts mid-July for Mount Shasta.
The photos below were taken in the Antelope Valley Reserve. Although the poppy bloom has already reached its peak, according to an April 13th posting on the Reserve site, the poppies are still blooming and the bloom is expected to last through the end of April. A Trip Savvy post on April 18th, entitled: Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve confirms the poppies are still in bloom in Antelope Valley and gives driving directions and other tips. Another website Desert USA has a great page: Southern California Wildflower Reports where people post photos of wildflowers with dated reports of the areas they have visited. By the way, someone posted on this site on April 19th that the wildflowers are still blooming in the Antelope Valley Reserve and in addition to poppies, grape soda lupine (which smells like grape soda) are in bloom. I think I’ll go and drink some, I mean see some. Another person on this site posted on April 19th that many wildflowers are in bloom on the Cistern Trail at Malibu Creek State Park . (Malibu Creek State Park is known in LA as the site where MASH was filmed from 1972-83, when the site was part of 20th Century Fox studios.) So if you’re in the area and in the mood for nostalgia and flowers take a hike there (but be advised, the bridge that you walk on to the MASH set is currently washed out and you have to walk through downed trees to get to the set.)
For peak season wildflower blooms in California according to month and location see: California Big Dream and if you can’t see them, the photos on all these sites are great and you can experience them without getting sweaty.
My husband says, “It’s Dorthy, with the Tin Woodman, Scarecrow and The Cowardly Lion, but I’m not sure. Photo credit: Alex Backus
Poppy field with a wagon train of cars. Photo credit: Alex Backus
Poppy field and shadows. Photo credit: Alex Backus
The fields go on forever. Photo credit: Alex Backus