Desert Wildflowers Southern California

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Wildflower and Plant Descriptions with Photos

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May 17, 2013 Jim reports: Some wildflowers and cactus are in bloom in McCain Valley off of I8 near Boulevard, California.

A horned lizard checked us out while we took pictures of the wildflowers

May 11, 2013 Michael reports: Mountain Pass along the 15 Fwy heading to Vegas before you drop down to Stateline. The higher you go the better they seem to be.

May 9, 2013 Jim reports: Found a few wildflowers in bloom in the Imperial Sand Dunes on the north end near rt 78 on May 8

May 3, 2013 Richard reports: I visited Figueroa Mountain on 4/28 and was hoping to find fields still in bloom but activity was sparse. This was my first time to the area so I stayed on the main roads. I followed Figueroa Mountain road the entire length from Los Olivos and occasionally took some of the side roads to explore further. I saw some poppies but purple lupine (I think) dominated the area. On the way back down I saw various patches of yellow flowers amongst the rocky hillside adjacent to the road as well as a few patches of purple flowers. Apparently I missed the height of the season but it was still a nice drive.

April 29, 2013 Carrizo Plain National Monument reports: Weather continues to be dry on the monument. As we are getting late in our wildflower season and we haven't received much rain this year, we don't expect to see any flowers.

April 29, 2013 Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve SNR reports: The spring wildflower season is over early. There was no rain over the winter so there were only a few flowers blooming for a short time and the hills stayed brown throughout the spring.

The Jane S. Pinheiro Interpretive Center will be open for mother’s day weekend, May 11th and 12th, with wildflower and wildlife exhibits, an orientation video, a gallery of Jane’s botanical watercolor paintings, and a gift shop benefiting our non-profit association. The visitor center will then reopen in Spring 2014. The park is open from sunrise to sunset daily.

April 23, 2013 Brian reports: Angeles National Forest, Azusa, CA San Gabriel Canyon Rd & E. Fork Rd. Wildflowers and Yucca are blooming in small patches. Burnt hillside returning to green with flowering weeds.

April 23, 2013 Janet reports: We visited the Figuroa Mtn. area in the Padres Nat. Forest Sun. the 21st. and am happy to report there are still plenty of poppies & lupines blooming on the slopes of the road,also a few other varieties, and if you want to take a hike you will find the forest floor still pretty full of these beauties. For those faint of heart the road is very narrow and winding, but so worth the trip.. From the town of Los Olivos follow Figuroa Mtn. Rd. to the top, and as you pass the ranger station you will begin to start seeing the flowers, they are about a half mile pass the station. Also remember this is snake season so be very careful where you walk, they are abundant this yr.

April 19, 2013 Brian reports: Glendora mountain road photos from 4/16/13

April 16, 2013 Jim reports: On Friday, 4/12, we went back up to the area on Hwy223 east of Arvin so my wife Janis could see the color I had seen 2 weeks ago. The area was already past its peak.

On our way home, we went down Gorman Post Road to get a closer look at the hillsides east of Gorman. They show some promise of color developing.As we drove slowly down Gorman Post Road, Janis spotted this ProngHorn Antelope, and I had just enough time to grab my Nikon D300 and took this pictures. And then he was gone.

April 16, 2013 Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve SNR reports: There's not much of a bloom this year due to the lack of rain all winter. Currently, there are only a few small poppy flowers here and there along the paths with a very small patch at the end of the paved trail, but the hills are brown and won't change unless we get more rain. Years like this make the other years more special!

However, if you don't expect carpets of color, the park is still a pleasant place to visit for a hike, picnic, or interpretive center discovery. The volunteer staff is enthusiastic and helpful, and the temperatures have made it a nice place to be outside in the open hills. Not really any snakes this year if you're concerned

April 12, 2013 Nao reports: On April 7th, I took a trip to Figuroa Mountain in Los Padres National Forest. After 0.8 miles passed the Ranger Station, the entire side of a slope was covered with Poppies and Lupines. They should last for another week or two. These are steep hills and the soil is very soft and fragile, so please be considerate not to damage the roots of these plants.

April 12, 2013 Doris reports: All photos were taken on Wednesday, April 10 in the Kiavah Wilderness-Sequoia National Forest, at or over 4,000' elevation. 1. Baby Blue Eyes, Waterleaf Family 2. Terebinth Pteryxia, Carrot Family 3. Beardtongue-Figwort Family

April 9, 2013 Jeff reports: Made another trip up to Figueroa Mountain 4-7-2013 The wildflowers are really taking off! Should be good for two more weeks or so.

April 9, 2013 Jan reports: Sat. 6th April....Wildflowers on Hwy 223 in Arvin, Ca. There are quite a few now.

On hwy. 178 through the Cyn. following the Kern river, there are a lot of wildflowers now, on the bank side of the road. We visited there Sat. the 6th. and took these photo’s.

April 6th. we also visited the Bakersfield Nat. Cemetery and found these fields of flowers. There is nothing yet at Gorman this year.

April 9, 2013 Charity reports: took these pictures at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area near Lakeview, CA (accessed off Ramona Expressway via Davis Rd.) on Thursday April 4. There are thousands of these yellow flowers out there, I think they might be goldfields, that are carpeting areas of the reserve. They are interspersed with Pineapple Weed(sorry didn't get any pictures of those). The smell however is intoxicating, the air is filled with a beautiful flowery perfume. Drive the auto tour road out to the end and back you will see fields of these flowers.

April 8, 2013 Evelyn reports: Just a comment on Gregg’s report March 28 re Hwy 74, 371, and 79. It inspired us to take the same route on April 7, but we were disappointed not to see much of anything blooming. It was all barren and dry. All those flowers in his list sure didn’t last very long!

April 6, 2013 Steve reports: On April 2, 2013: Location: on CA180 (Kings Canyon Rd) 9 miles east of Squaw Valley in Fresno County CA. I visited desertusa.com before made a trip for wildflowers in So. Ca, and read Rena’s report on 3/28/13. I thanks to her and others to share the information on wildflowers. My family really enjoyed the trip to CA180 to spot many wildflowers. Very scenic and breathtaking!!! Here I post few pix from many I took. Please enjoy them.

April 6, 2013 Doris reports: Tobias Peak Trail near the Sequoia National Forest.
1. Mountain Violet - 2. Cream Cup - 3. Pincushion

April 5, 2013 Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve SNR reports: Currently, there are only a few small poppy flowers here and there along the paths with a very small patch at the end of the paved trail, but the hills are brown and probably won't get any better unless we get more rain. We may not have a peak at all this year.

April 2, 2013 Richard reports: On Saturday March 30, 2013, I went to Figueroa Mountain (near Solvang) and it was breathtaking. Thanks to Jeff (reported this on March 23). Wildflowers are at the peak and it might last a few weekends. Exact location (where the photos were taken) is 0.5 mile beyond the fire station on Figueroa Mountain Road.

April 1, 2013 Rena reports: On March 28, 2013, I saw the most beautiful array of wildflowers on Highway 180 driving east towards Squaw Valley on my way to Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Forest. I don't know the names of flowers, but there was lots of purple, blue, yellow, white, pink and orange wildflowers to be seen, along with tons of fuschia blossoms on tress. It was SO BEAUTIFUL. The best display that I can remember seeing in years. I wish I had my camera with me, but I did not. So I guess I'll just have to go back!

More reports on Page 2