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

April 2, 2008 Dave reports: I spent April 1st at the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve and also exploring the area north of the reserve aliong Hwy.138. The day was great except for an increasing wind which was pushing 20-25 mph by the time I left at 2pm. Most of my time was spent along the Kitanemuk Vista Point Trail, the North Trail and takes you around the westside and then up to Tehachapi Vista Point and back to the visitors center. Lots and lots of poppies in the park. Also lots of Acton Daisies, Fiddleneck, Blue Dicks & Wild Parsley.

April 2, 2008 Robert reports: Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve in Lancaster, CA April 1, 08

April 2, 2008 Jared reports: I was out in Amboy last week on Monday the 24th of March and returned on March 28th and 29th to monitor the bloom. On March 24th the ground was absolutely saturated with an abundance of desert grasshoppers that had emerged to enjoy the feast that the desert had provided. As the cycle of the desert had moved along, it was time for the flowers we had enjoyed for the months of February and March to serve their purpose of the ecosystem and provide the food and nourishment for the insects that had waited for many years underground for this opportunity to present itself. Millions of grasshoppers blanket the ground at Amboy Crater and all around the area, all in different stages of development, but all with the same purpose, to hatch, THRIVE, consume, fertilize, reproduce and die.

Below is a picture from March 24th, and a picture I shot this weekend, on March 28th of the same area just FOUR days later. The millions of grasshoppers, as well as caterpillars, and other insects can descend upon an area like this and although all of the plants below were still alive, like a plague of locusts, can eat and devour the beauty of the leaves and flowers and from a distance make the area look as though the flowers never existed. When the next bloom happens you will now know that there is a very short window between the time when these millions of hungry grasshoppers emerge and when the flowers are completely devoured. The Desert is the desert and its harsh and unpredictable, it’s not concrete and neon. Things such as the beauty of the desert wildflowers are here today gone tomorrow.

April 2, 2008 Lynda reports: We drove out to Leona Valley, ca and had a great trip. I am sending 2 pictures. The first is the cut off to Bouquet Canyon. Tons of poppies carpeted the hills. I really like the Varity of flowers that we saw. Purple lupine, baby golden sunflowers and poppies can be found everywhere. Really worth the trip. Take Palmdale blvd towards Leona Valley and you cant miss the flowers.

April 1, 2008 Simon reports: We just back from Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, Saturday (3/29/08), the poppy is very beautiful, even miles away you can see them. many people said it is not as great as the best year, but much better then what we expected, thanks god for this year anyway. South side hill is in full bloom but north side is not yet. strong wind make it hard to take photo and walk. afternoon parking is not easy since this weekend many people rush to visit poppy. Be an early bird.

March 31, 2008 Eric reports: Photos taken from Vistor's Center Loop Trail at Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve on Friday, March 28, 2008. Beautiful, sunny skies but unpleasantly strong winds.

March 27, 2008 Dan reports: Spent the last week doing a big loop from San Diego out through southern ABDSP (Ocotillo/Carrizo Badlands) -> Salton Sea -> JTNP -> MNP -> DVNP -> Las Vegas, and back down to San Diego.

At the lower elevations of ABDSP and DVNP, the ephemerals are past peak and fading fast. In ABDSP, the perennials are still going strong and the cacti are starting to come in. The lower elevations of JTNP are still going strong with vast carpets of ephemerals in the Coachella Valley, Pinto Basin, and around the N entrance of the park. Annuals are starting to come in at the higher elevations around Hidden Valley, in and around the Wonderland of Rocks. There are still very impressive displays along the Amboy road, and along Rte 66 over to Essex. The higher elevations around the Providence Mountains SRA are just starting to come in, and should get good in the next week or so, as long as it is not too hot and windy. There are impressive displays along Black and Cedar Canyon roads, Kelbaker Road north of Kelso, Kelso-Cima Road, and Cima Road. There are occasional displays and sparse roadside blooms from Baker north to Furnace Creek (via Saratoga Spring and the East Side road), but even the perennials seem to have mostly finished up in this region. There are good blooms along the CA-NV border, particularly in the higher elevations of western Nevada.

Desert perennials including Joshua Trees, other yuccas, creosote bush, chuparosa, bladderpod, brittlebush, ocotillo, desert lavender, and the buckwheats (etc.) are all going very strong throughout most of their respective ranges, with the exception of Death Valley. For cacti, I saw some beavertails in bloom, hedgehogs are all budded out and starting to open, but I haven't seen any barrels or chollas going yet.

There's still a lot of snow on the Panamints and on Mount Charleston, with opportunity for good bloom at the higher elevations those areas, e.g., along the Trona-Wildrose road and over at Red Rock (NV).

Things are also shaping up very nicely on the western slope of the peninsular range, and this should be an excellent year in the coastal sage and chaparral, including the areas that were burned over in the October wildfires.

March 27, 2008 Cathy reports: Thanks to your reports, we were able to find locations in Antelope Valley where we could see wildflowers without walking too far from the car. The Poppy Reserve was not nearly as lush as it was when our family visited 5 or 6 years ago, but it was beautiful and had a respectable number of flowers on the loop around the visitor's center. The photo is of the Poppy Reserve.

We began from Highway 14 and exited Elizabeth Lake Road heading east, and turned right to go over Godde Pass, where there are few safe places to stop, but the hills were covered with the best displays of poppies, goldfields and several blue flowers that we saw all day. Over the hill, we turned left on Avenue N and zig-zagged along streets along the north side of the hills as we headed toward the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve. There are a number of subdivisions being built in the area, so many of the alphabet-lettered streets dead-end, but there are large fields of poppies at the ends of them, and the Poppy Reserve is usually visible in the distance. There are also pretty sections of Goldfields visible from there.

The Poppy Reserve was REALLY windy... even the rangers commented on it being unusually windy. A few gusts were so strong they nearly blew us off the trail near the tops of the ridges. The sun was warm and beautiful, but the wind was freezing. Everyone out there was wearing sweatshirts with the hoods up... no hats could stay on heads. Be warned. The Ripley reserve further down the road only seemed to have Joshua trees blooming, but they were pretty, too. Because of the wind, most of the poppies were somewhat closed, but I'm not sure how long they will last (I didn't see huge numbers of buds, and that wind was really intense).

March 26, 2008 David reports: I was out on the east side of I-15 around elsinore yesterday, and it looks like the poppies there are done. Today I was at the poppy reserve in Lancaster (pics below). The bloom is not the best I've ever seen there, but it is well worth a look. Some of the best displays are along Avenue I east of the park (last photo). It was a LOT windier than the predicted 17mph breeze, so if you're using film, bring fast film or pray for no wind.

March 26, 2008 BLM reports: Carrizo Plain National Monument The carpets of goldfields have been developing from Traver Ranch north to Soda Lake. Phacelia are blooming across Soda Lake Road from the Education Center." There are also hillside daisies, tidy tips, poppies, fiddleneck, golden bush, bush lupine and blazing stars in bloom.

March 26, 2008 BLM reports: The beautiful desert lily is blooming now in the California Desert near Desert Center in Riverside County. The desert lily is usually found in dry, sandy flats below 2,000 feet. The plant's bulb lies dormant, sometimes for many years, waiting for the perfect blooming conditions. The plants can reach several feet tall with blossoms about two inches long. The best time to visit the Desert Lily Sanctuary is February through April.

March 26, 2008 Myra reports: This picture was taken at Santa Rosa Plateau on Monday 3/24

March 25, 2008 EC16 reports: The first one is from Clinton Keith Rd in Murrieta. The cross street was Iodine Springs. Lots of flowers in this area. The other two are from Santa Rosa Plateau. Both taken along the trail from the Vernal Pools to the adobe buildings. I believe it's the Vernal Pool Trail. We then came back up the Trans-Preserve Trail which goes through Poppy Hill, but only saw a few poppies, unlike a few years back. Hwy.74 between Palm Desert and Vista Point. The hils are absolutely alive with these yellow flowers also lots of white, blue and pink. The cactus are also blooming quite well right now. Within a few miles it's quite amazing especially on a nice clear day!

March 25, 2008 Tom reports: Hwy 46 near Cholame is spectacular and will get better over the next week or so. I shot this photo yesterday, March 24th around 2 pm about 5 miles east of the James Dean Junction. Evening light would have been even better.

March 25, 2008 Barbara reports: Shot in Indian Canyon, Palm Springs, CA – Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008

March 25, 2008 Jeffrey reports: The picture below was taken just north east of where the 41 and 46 merge heading into Morro Bay, between Interstate 5 and 101 freeways near Cholame. I am guessing this potion is pretty close to peak of the season, but there are numerous other places along this road that appear eager to break out in full color. The colors were intense. Just a mile or so closer to Cholame Valley, I found 18 Pronghorns grazing, taken March 24th Thanks again for the incredible online resource. I've been traveling every weekend for 2 months for the wildflowers, confirming many of the locations people have written in about. Thanks to EVERYONE. Click on map to go to the exact location.

March 23, 2008 Simon reports: Sunday March 22nd, Amboy Crater was disappointed me, it's too late, the yellow sunflower carpets start fading and the very high temperature help it even faster, I guess this weekend could be the ending. but we get surprise on the way to it, close the Sheep hole pass and side of HW62 still have many wildflowers, but not carpets. So we headed to Joshua Tree NP after dark, the tree just start to blooming, very strange looking, it's my 1st time see a Joshua tree blooming. the park may have many flower at night, you can smell them everywhere in the dark. thanks to everyone for their reports.

March 23, 2008 Robert reports: We enjoyed a leisurely hike on the Granite Loop Trail at Santa Rosa Plateau Nature Preserve. We had originally planned to go to the vernal pools, but opted for a less crowded hike. The area wasn't carpeted with wildflowers like some of the locations we've visited this spring, but we still got to see a nice mix of blooms.

March 22, 2008 Bill reports: Torrey Pines State Park - 3-22-08 These photos were all taken east of the 101 in the Park. Many more flowers this year than the last few years. And all within San Diego City limits. Just shows you don't have to go far this year to enjoy the wild flowers. With the late rains received this year here in coastal San Diego - - it looks like we are still a few weeks away from the park really erupting with a wide variety of flowers.