Best Sites for Updated Wildflower Bloom Reports
- Wildflower Reports: What’s Blooming Where (Natural History Wanderings list of links to many wildflowers sites and bloom reports)
- Theodore Payne Wildflower Hotline (weekly report of wildflower blooms mainly in Southern California)
- Wildflower Conservancy (regularly updated wildflower reports throughout California)
- DesertUSA – Desert Wildflower reports (wildflower postings are updated almost daily; primarily covers desert regions)
- Calphoto: Where to photograph in California (yahoo discussion group that is a good source of wildflower bloom information; must sign up as a member to have access)
For some of the best spots to see California wildflowers in April click “Read More” below
Top Northern California Wildflower Hotspots to Visit in April
(click on hotspots for informational postings on wildflower viewing)
- Bear Valley
- Edgewood Park
- Hell’s Half Acre and South Yuba River
- Henry Coe
- Mt. Diablo
- Pt. Reyes: Chimney Rock and Abbotts Lagoon
- Skyline Serpentine Prairie at Redwood Regional Park
- Sierra Foothills (especially Hite Cove)
- Table Mountain
Yosemite National Park – it is too early for mountain wildflowers, but there will be plenty of bloom in the foothills. Here are three sites to check for information.
- Yosemite Park Now in Bloom
- Yosemite Nature Notes
- In the Moment a Landscape Photography Blog Michael Frye
Top Southern California Wildflower Hotspots to Visit in April
(click on hotspots for informational postings on wildflower viewing)
- Antelope Valley (park information)
- Antelope Valley (Poppy bloom)
- Anza-Borrego Wildflowers (natural history association site)
- Anza-Borrego State Park (has link to wildflower report and map)
- Carrizo Plain
- Death Valley
- Hungry Valley (includes wildflower reports for Gorman Hills)
- Joshua Tree
- Los Padres National Forest/Figueroa Mountain
- Mojave National Preserve
- Santa Monica Mountains
- Western Mojave Desert Region (Short Canyon, Sand Canyon, Desert Tortoise Natural Area, Surprise Canyon)
- Eastern Sierra/Bishop BLM
Botanic Gardens
(Botanic Gardens are another good place to see and photograph wildflowers)
- Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden
- University of California-Davis Arboretum
- Regional Parks Botanic Garden (Berkeley, CA)
- UC Botanical Garden (Berkeley,CA)
- San Francisco Botanical Garden at Strybing Arboretum
- University of California, Santa Cruz Arboretum
- Santa Barbara Botanic Garden http://www.sbbg.org/index.cfm?
- Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden (Claremont,CA)
- Huntington (San Marino, CA)
Natural History Wanderings posting with links to more botanic gardens: Botanic Gardens and Arboretum of California
I will not be posting wildflower updates again until mid April 2011 but this list will help you find updated wildflower bloom reports and information on April Hotspots. Natural History Wanderings will continue to have new posts daily including articles on places to go.
Related Articles
- How To Read A Wildflower Report? (naturalhistorywanderings.com)
The Santa Barbara Botanical Gardens is so nice, especially in Spring and Summer when everything is at its peak of bloom! I travel to Santa Barbara quite often and this is one of my favorite spots to hang out and spend some time outdoors with friends or family. The walking tours are quite nice and it is very easy to get caught up in all the beautiful scenery! I was there a few months ago and took so many pictures. My group and I stayed at the Sandman Inn (www.thesandmaninn.com). Right in downtown SB-it was super close to the gardens and beyond affordable. Really couldn’t beat it.
By: Sasha on January 24, 2012
at 6:20 PM