Wildflower season is here! These will be the best spots to see them across Southern California in 2019

By: Nikie Johnson at Los Angeles Daily News Original post: Click here

If Southern California’s wildflower season had an opening weekend, it would be the first weekend of March.

This is usually when the region starts to transition from rainy winter to sunny spring, cueing flowers to bloom and parks to prepare for crowds of visitors. As rainy as this winter has been,  many flower lovers are hoping for a “superbloom” — an exceptional season in which bright flowers blanket the hillsides (and social media feeds).

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Some areas, especially in drier, warmer locales, are already bursting with early-blooming flowers including poppies, fiddleneck and lupine. Other areas will get going in mid-March to April, while higher elevations are the latest bloomers, with the season peaking in May and even early June.

Of course, it all depends on the weather. How much longer the rainy weather sticks around and how quickly after that it heats up will determine just how good this year turns out to be and how long the season lasts, experts say. All discussion below about peak times are estimates, not guarantees.

Some other things to keep in mind: Be prepared with essentials such as water, food, sunscreen, extra layers of clothing and a map that will work even if your cellphone doesn’t. Know the cardinal rules of wildflower viewing: Stay on trails, park in designated areas, take your trash home and don’t pick flowers.

Wherever you’re headed, check the website or social media accounts of the agency in charge. It may have policies you need to know (like whether your dog is allowed), tips to maximize your fun (like where the best current blooms are) or information keep you safe (like what areas aren’t accessible).

Wildflower excursions are popular, so be patient if there are crowds — or schedule trips for the less-busy weekdays if you can. And sunny mornings to early afternoons are the optimal time to be out looking for beautiful blooms.

Here are the places across Southern California that outdoors aficionados say have some of the best wildflower displays. Two other good resources for inspiration are the Theodore Payne Foundation’s wildflower hotline (theodorepayne.org/learn/wildflower-hotline or 818-768-1802 ext. 7) and www.desertusa.com.