Natural History Wanderings

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve SNR just posted a  Wildflower Bloom Status:for March 29, 2014

As of March 29th, the hills are green with patches of healthy poppies around the park, mostly along the trails.  We expect more rain this weekend which will help the recently germinated plants survive longer, so we may have a good season after all with a peak in mid-April.  The bloom is already much better than the last two years. Other wildflowers such as forget me nots, lupine, goldfields, and fiddleneck can be found throughout the park.

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.