Natural History Wanderings

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve SNR has a Wildflower Bloom report for March 22, 2014:

As of March 22nd, the hills have greened up and there are patches of healthy poppies around the park, many along the trails.  The recent rains gave a boost to the few plants that survived all winter with little water, and many new plants have germinated but are not yet blooming.  These new seedlings will likely be in full bloom in April but they are vulnerable to early heat waves or late freezes because of their young, shallow roots.  The late rain leaves us unable to guarantee anything- most could be lost with a couple hot, windy days.  Other wildflowers such as forget me nots, lupine, goldfields, and fiddleneck can be found throughout the park, but they are also still small so you must look closely alongside the trails.

Poppies open up on nice days, but they curl up if it’s windy and cold, so check the weather forecast before arriving.  It is frequently windy here during the spring.  The other wildflowers stay open, however, making a mosaic of color that changes daily. The weather can change suddenly, so bring a jacket.  This is a desert grassland, so bring water and drink often.  Bottled water is available for purchase in the interpretive center.