Natural History Wanderings

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve SNR reports

As of February 22nd, the hills are greening up but no poppy buds have been seen yet. Because the rains started late and then came on heavily, it wasn’t the optimal precipitation pattern for poppies so we’re expecting a moderate poppy bloom at best. Their shallower roots from late germination will also be more vulnerable to late freezes and early heat waves. However, we might be getting a good show of some rarely seen flowers that need heavy rains. If all goes well, we can expect the bloom to start in early to mid-March and last until mid-April or later.

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