Sustain LAist today!

Your monthly gift during our June member drive powers our local newsroom.
1,485 sustainers of 2,500 goal
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

What About the Poppies & Cherry Blossoms?

poppyreseve.jpg
The Poppy Reserve in Antelope Valley | Photo by tomsaint11 via Flickr

This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.

After our wildflower post earlier today, a couple commenters had questions and comments specifically about poppies and the cherry blossom season.

Poppies: They are just one of the many types of wildflowers, but since they're our state flower and icon, it is the most popular and well known. You can find them during the upcoming season mixed in with wildflowers throughout Southern California, but the most internationally famous areas are the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve and in Gorman off the 5 freeway, according to Lili Singer of the Theodore Payne Foundation. It's a tad bit little early for poppies anyway--only 15 total have been spotted in the reserve by park officials.

Cherry Blossoms: If you're waiting to have a hanami, a couple weeks wait might be in store. The folks over at the Japanese American Cultural Center say that you can already see some cherry blossoms beginning to bloom downtown, but it's nothing full yet. Same goes in the Valley at Lake Balboa Park: "I would say they are at about 10% today," wrote Douglas Welch yesterday on his blog, "but I would expect the bloom to come on fast over the next 1-2 weeks." And don't forget the Cherry Blossom Festival in April.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.

Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.

If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.

Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today