Natural History Wanderings

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve SNR has a new wildflower bloom status report for 3/14/13

It’s been a very dry winter again this year, but after the recent late rains, many poppy plants germinated. At this point they are only the size of golf balls and the reserve is taking on a slight greenish shade (see Current Photos).  HOWEVER- their shallow young roots are vulnerable to freezes and heat waves. It looks like we will have a late season, so late April, early May MIGHT be our peak- we won’t know until it’s happening but that’s what happened last year after a similar winter.

We do have our first bloom of the year- the Grape Soda Lupine is starting to bloom! The Joshua tree in front of the visitor center is also in full bloom.