California Super Bloom

I always look forward to Spring flowers, but this year’s California super bloom is a truly spectacular display! Poppies, California’s state flower, are the star of the show, however, other wildflowers also bloomed in abundance.

A super bloom typically occurs after an especially wet rainy season. Native seeds that had been lying dormant are awakened, so they are triggered and bloom at the same time. Colorful flowers blanket hillsides and fields throughout the state, particularly in the deserts of Southern California.

This year poppies bloomed close to my home in Orange County, but this only whet my appetite to see more of them. I took a road trip to Lancaster, so I could experience even more of these beautiful blooms. We are nearing the end of the super bloom, but there was still an abundance of gorgeous, deep orange blossoms that you can see from miles away.

Photo Gallery

Lancaster, California

You can visit the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve just outside of Lancaster or you will find many other places to see them nearby, as I did. There were dozens of others enjoying the flowers and taking pictures in the same area as me. As expected, I could easily identify the Instagrammers posing with carefully chosen outfits.

When hiking, it’s always good to stay on marked trails, but it’s especially important for the wildflowers. Some assume that you just need to avoid stepping ON the flower plants, but it’s also damaging to step next to or between the plants. This compacts the soil, so seeds can’t come back. Naturally, I want to do my part to keep my home state beautiful.

One California poppy is pretty, but millions of them are absolutely amazing! It has been wonderful to see them up close, and, also, to see large blankets of them as I drive around So Cal. I’m not sure how many years I’ll need to wait for another super bloom, but have good memories and lots of photos of this one.

Check out my other travel articles, so you can get more travel inspiration.