Natural History Wanderings

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve posted the following wildflower bloom report today (4-28-11):

“We have had a very disappointing season so far, but we’ve suddenly had an unexpected poppy bloom! We definitely don’t have orange carpets of flowers, but the warm weather this week brought out more blossoms than we’ve had the whole season so far. How long it lasts depends on the weather- a heat wave will wilt them quickly, but if the current weather lasts, it could be nice for about the next 3 weeks. This year’s displays of owl’s clover, another favorite of Reserve visitors, have been better than most recent years.

This has been a rather unusual spring for wildflower displays.  Even though the first seed germination-triggering rain storm came early last fall, the first poppy blossoms were not seen until late February; a month or more later than past years with similar early rain storms.  The poppy display can be called, at best, modest.

What Reserve trails are best right now?  It depends on what you are looking for.  Poppies are widely scattered so you can find some along any of the trails, but it looks like the best we’re going to get is along the beginning of the South Poppy Loop Trail.  Owl’s clover, our best wildlower showing this year, can be found along the North Poppy Loop trail toward the spring and just past it (see Current Photos).  Walking the Valley Vista trail, you will find the best displays of tiny flowers such as forget-me-nots, suncups, gilia, and, if you are there very late in the afternoon, evening snow.  A good hiking route for a variety of wildflowers would be around the North and South Poppy Loop Trails.

Poppies bundle themselves up when it’s cold and windy, so check the forecast before coming out. Tours are offered on weekends during the wildflower season that point out the variety of wildflowers that you many not have otherwise noticed, as well as the colorful history of the area.”