Many cities in Northern California exceeded 100% of their average seasonal rainfall by early Feb and this, says Tourism California, wages well for a large-scale flowerpalooza, a bigger than average seasonal bloom.
Agents with wildflower fan clients might like to point them in the direction of The Golden State. And while Southern California has had its second driest period in almost 150 years, it may still come through with some fabulous spring bloom, says the STO. Coastal hills and inland valleys in Northern California are primed to put on a colourful show this year and parks in Sonoma County like Taylor Mountain Regional Park and Sonoma Coast State Park should have a kaleidoscope of flowers. Near Sacramento, expect swaths of lupines and orange California poppies at Folsom Lake State Recreation Area and Auburn’s Hidden Falls Regional Par, it says.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, urge clients to look for a bonanza of blooms at the Peninsula’s Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve and Marin County’s Point Reyes National Seashore. Almost anywhere in Monterey County is also a sure bet for wildflowers such as Fort Ord National Monument or Garrapata State Park. Wildflower photographer Lisa Berry says to look for fairy lanterns, live forever, redbud, and the elusive Dutchman’s pipe, a vine with a distinctive saxophone- like flower. Note that bloom moves upward with mountain elevations, so the Sierra’s highest peaks show their flowers as late as Jul and Aug.
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