California Wild Flower Bloom

0 Comments | Posted by Ryan in Activities, California, Ryan Strehlow, Santa Barbara Events, Santa Barbara News, Santa Barbara Real Estate, Wild Flowers

Living is Santa Barbara we sometimes forget how many incredible places we have within a short afternoon drive. Springtime is the perfect time to enjoy a variety of colored flowers and depending on where you travel there will be different plants in bloom. Currently the California Poppies are just past peak season, in the Antelope Valley just off highway 138 between highway 5 and highway 14 in Lancaster. Being the California state flower, “The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural Reserve” was established to protect the species for our children’s children to enjoy. The Poppy Reserve is located about 18 miles West of Lancaster and stretches for miles throughout the valley.

Viewing the poppy’s in prime season on the weekends will be a bit more like going to Disneyland on the fourth of July. Plan on meeting thousands of enthusiasts traveling from hundreds of miles to share in the orange carpet of color.

The bright yellow flowers of wild mustard are also carpeting the hillsides of central California. The photo here was taken on highway 166 two miles east of the intersection of the 33 not too far from New Cuyama. The mustard has been in bloom for three weeks and expected to be just past its prime season. The local farmers consider the bloom one of the best years for color in the last decade.

Also one of the most beautiful displays of the bright yellow fragrant Sweet broom can be seen on highway 33 heading out of Ojai or on the way up to Big Bear on highway 330. The 5 foot tall bushes line the highway for miles. This weekend could be the prime time to see the last of the California Wild Flowers.