- Author: Erin Mahaney
“These [California poppies] too are of a burning color—not orange, not gold, but if pure gold were liquid and could raise a cream, that golden cream might be like the color of poppies.”
- John Steinbeck, East of Eden
On the way back from southern California last April, my family spontaneously decided to take a quick detour past the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve near Lancaster to see if the California poppies were blooming there. A park just for poppies? Yes, indeed! The Poppy Reserve is a State Natural Reserve in the western Mojave Desert, which is managed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
As most of us know, the California poppy (Eschscholtzia californica) is the California state flower, so designated by the state legislature in 1903. But it was selected as the state's flower over a decade earlier when, in 1890, the California State Floral Society held an election to choose a state flower. The California poppy won by a landslide over its competitors, the Mariposa lilly (three votes) and the Matilija poppy (no votes). Every April 6 is California Poppy Day.
Due to the drought, I didn't expect much of a wildflower display at the Poppy Reserve and I wondered if the detour would be worth it. But just a few miles outside of the Poppy Reserve, we careened to a stop. The display of orange-gold wildflowers covering the fields and hills was absolutely stunning. (The poppies were so thick that they reminded some of us of the poppy field in the “Wizard of Oz!”) We took photos, and then repeated the process at every curve in the road that somehow brought even better views. I soon regretted that I hadn't brought my good camera and tripod.
After annoying our children with innumerable stops in just a few miles, we eventually arrived at the Poppy Reserve, with its eight miles of hiking trails (some of which are paved for wheelchair access). The state park, which is approximately 1745 acres, has a small interpretive center and gift shop with wildflower exhibits and gifts, as well as picnic areas. It is open year-round, although of course the wildflower season is the likely the biggest draw. The wildflowers generally bloom from mid-March through mid-May, with the peak viewing period usually occurring in mid-April. In addition to poppies, the state park hosts other wildflowers, such as owl's clover, lupine, goldfield, cream cups, and coreopsis, and wildlife. The wildflowers grow in a natural state – they are not watered or managed for blooms by the state park. The Poppy Reserve's website (address below) posts wildflower bloom status updates for the park from February through mid-May, as well as the number for the wildflower hotline.
Who knows what wildflowers this spring will bring, but in a good year, it is well worth the drive to see the masses of poppies and other wildflowers around and in the Poppy Reserve. (Just make sure you bring your camera!)
California Dept. of Parks and Recreation, Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=627