Wildflower Reports For Southern California Parks 2008
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April 29, 2008 Jeffrey reports: Just wanted to share a couple images from the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve taken Sunday April 28. Although the State Park Reserve wasn't all too spectacular, the roads just northwest of the park were amazing. Most incredible displays were near 170 St W and W Ave E 8. No worries in finding them, just follow the orange glow. I think visitors will still get another week or so to enjoy the beauty here.

April 27, 2008 Lilian reports: We went to Gorman Hills on 04/26 (take I-5 to the Gorman exit), even though we heard the flowers were fading, the color was still like impressionist palette along Gorman Post Road, absolutely beautiful. The only problem is that you need to be aware of rattlesnakes.

April 22, 2008 Kahlee reports: GORMAN (via Hwy 138 to Gorman Post Road): It's not the best year I've seen in Gorman, but it's pretty decent and definitely worth a visit -- especially if you're taking in the AV poppies anyway. This is a more pastel season than some have been, with a profusion of light blue globe gilia and phacelia as well as lupine, poppies, cream cups, coreopsis, filaree and others. Follow the Gorman Post Road (accessed from I-5 or the 138) or take the Gorman Exit off the I-5 and instead, go left, under the freeway, turn left again and follow the dirt road along the foothills to get a more distant perspective (across the freeway) of the colorful Gorman hills. This area was approaching peak in some spots, at peak in others, but altogether very cold, dry and windy. Given the conditions, the flowers probably will not last very long.

April 22, 2008 Kahlee reports: ANTELOPE VALLEY POPPY RESERVE (via Munz Ranch Road to Lancaster Road/Hwy 138): Driving west on poppy-lined Lancaster Road as it serpentines from Munz Ranch Road to the Reserve, there were several short spur roads on the north side, each leading uphill to a somewhat higher plateau-like area before you get to the Reserve. These "driveways" are wide, but poorly paved to the top, then dirt. In particular, look for one with a rather intimidating-looking burned-out car lying on its side. Maneuver carefully past this ominous welcome and turn left at the first dirt track. While it may be ecologically disconcerting to drive through this impromptu garbage dump, keep going. Where the road curves and turns north, you'll get to a wonderfully thick display of poppies with orange hills in the background. It was very easy to reach this point by 2WD sedan, however, be careful whenever driving on any of the dirt roads in Antelope Valley as sands are always shifting and it's very easy to get stuck. (I'm speaking from experience on that one!) Also, be prepared to lash yourself to a fencepost or the hood of your car if you don't want any of those nasty gusts of high desert wind to knock you right to the ground. Forget close-ups on windy days unless you're lucky enough to get a calm moment or you can put up a windproof barrier around your subject. And remember, poppies do love to furl up in the wind. (Heck, I wanted to furl up to protect my petals too! Brrrrrr!) Nevertheless, there are still possibilities for some interesting shots and panoramas seething with orange -- particularly along Lancaster Road just west of the Reserve entrance. Turn right along the dirt road at the end of the Preserve fence-line and follow its perimeter. Leaving the Reserve and driving west along Hwy 138, I saw another glorious field in the distance (around 200th) but I'd had enough of the wind and headed west.

April 18, 2008 Ron reports: Thursday 17th Drove a loop from Mojave to antelope valley to Gorman to Carizzo plain and back. The best poppy field I found was on the north side of Antelope Valley. From avenue D look north where your should turn south to the poppy preserve... at the sign. You cannot miss it. 500 acres of *solid* poppy with the Tehachapi mountains as a back drop. You must drive a few miles of dirt farm road to get to it. Gorman good but not spectacular Carizzo plain pretty much over Highway 58 back to Bakersfield some pretty good roadside color.

April 14, 2008 Lloyd and Sandy report: Saturday April 12 North Antelope valley around 200th St and Patterson Ave. Best I've seen is several years. Wind was from east and very light. Drove down to preserve and poppys were great there also.

April 10, 2008 Morgan reports: We went by the Carrizo plain on Sunday, April 6. It was beautiful out there, the picture don’t do it justice. The drive in from San Luis on the HW58 was excellent; Shell creek road was very good too. The Bush Lupine filled the air with an amazing aroma and Golden bush are peaking in the near by hills, saw a few Munz’s Tidy-tips, (Layia munzii ) and at the Soda Lake Board walk we saw some nice Cream Cups, (Platystemon californicus) . Saw some Pronghorn but were only able to get a photo of a doe as the buck was too far out.

I would suggest getting out there soon before the impending heat alters the green lush Carrizo landscape until next spring.

April 10, 2008 Janet reports: As of April 8th. Gorman is finally starting to come alive, from nothing the previous week to the photos attached. I think in 2 weeks at the most, it will be in full bloom, but also full of snakes this year, so be careful where you step.

April 7, 2008 Matt reports: Carrizo Plains - Drove the full Soda Lake Road from the south entrance to California Valley on Mar 30. It was a little early for wildflowers even though there were sporadic displays here and there. Should be looking good now. Towards the south there were plenty of vast fields of Goldfields and Fiddlenecks. The Caliente Ridge Road has good displays of California poppies, Bush Lupine, and Golden Bush. Near the Soda Lake there are Phacelia, Goldfields, some Baby blue-eyes. The wildflowers outside the park along Hwy 58 are much better and worth seeing. On the drive home I spotted a kit fox sunning himself out in the fields. I tried to get as close as possible to take a photo before he went back into his burrow.

April 6, 2008 Byron reports: A breezy midday Sunday April 6 at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve along the west loop trail. The park was quite crowded with visitors and yet these uninterrupted views were possible.

April 7, 2008 Matt reports: On Saturday April 5, we drove out to the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve. With the early rains this is one of best displays since 2005. We hiked the North Trail to Tehachapi Point and then finished off the rest of the trail. Plenty of Poppies, Lupine, Goldfields, Red Maids, Slender Keel Fruit, Gilia and Fiddlenecks (which will blooming soon.) Even though it was windy some of the poppies opened up around 10am. The best location right now is the east side of the reserve. A dirt road off Lancaster Road leads to an impressive field of poppies. 110 street w is worth exploring as well. If the weather holds out it should be good for a couple more weeks.

April 5, 2008 Bruce reports: I visited the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve 4/4/08, and the poppy blooms and other desert flower blooms were very strong. Here are just a few of the many pictures I took.

April 4, 2008 Leslie reports: I visited Gorman and saw very few poppies and lupine along Gorman Post Road compared to 15 years ago. We drove along Highway 138 towards the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve but turned North toward a large field that I photographed 15 years ago. Here is how it looked on 4/1/08