We're having wild weather, indeed, and with winter's arrival, it doesn't seem right to be thinking about cheery purple blooms dotting our greenspaces, and yet at Los Angeles State Historic Park they're already getting a preview of the lupines that will blanket the park come spring. more ›

Take a hike with Tony Valois in the Santa Monica Mountains and you're likely to see things much differently than the average hiker. For Valois, a volunteer with the National Park Service, the mountains are a living, breathing and ever-changing landscape of beauty, wonder and excitement. What's this flower? He has the answer. How about this grass? Yeah, he knows it. What can be said about this tree? Nothing gets beyond him and if he doesn't know, he'll be quick to figure it out. more ›

Checking out wildflowers is a game of patience and flexibility. That's because you can't plan for them every year (like when there is a drought) and you can't predict when each species' bloom will peak (Anacapa Island's giant coreopsis already came and went). For those seeking to see the states state flower, the California Poppy, now is the time as the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve and surrounding areas are at their best right now. And true to every year, it won't last for long. more ›

The large Dr. Seuss-looking Giant Coreopsis plants only bloom a couple months of the year. That part of the year is now, but these rare plants are not exactly local to everywhere in Southern California. In fact, there are only a handful of places where you can find them in big numbers. One such place is in Malibu at the Point Dume State Preserve, which we showed you last week. But one of the most popular places to view these flowers is on Anacapa Island, one of the five islands within Channel Islands National Park. more ›

A planned nature walking trail in the Ballona Wetlands that is halfway completed may be stopped due to the discovery of a nearly extinct wildflower. Rains have brought out a patch, possibly the largest population in existence, of bright yellow Orcutt's yellow pincushions in the middle of the four-acre project a few miles north of LAX. Now two environment groups want the L.A. Department of Public Works to stop the project so state wildlife authorities can examine the site and project. Nature-lovers are "killing nature with a wildlife-enhancement project," said Ballona Institute director Robert Jan van de Hoek. The Center for Biological Diversity is also siding with Hoek. more ›

Santa Clarita's Whitney Canyon Park boasts trails for use by hikers, bikers, and equestrians. One such visitor was LAist Featured Photos pool contributor kimbrough-photo, who shared these images from a recent visit. Capturing the lush dampness of our wet weather of late, the burn scares from past flames, vistas of Santa Clarita, and colorful wildflowers, we couldn't help but wish we were walking there now, too. more ›

As LAist noted a couple weeks ago, the Wildflower Hotline makes it seasonal debut today. If you don't have the time to call in (818-768-3533) the Theordore Payne Foundation also posts a weekly update on their website. more ›

Talk about opposites. An Orange County man who owns 320 acres abut the internationally famous poppy reserve in the Antelope Valley wants to build a 3.6-mile course race track. The owner says there won't be much of an impact as it will be built for car clubs and racing organizations with no grandstand for spectators. Still, there are other concerns, explains the LA Times in a feature story: more ›

The peak bloom has already quickly come and gone at the California Poppy Reserve in Antelope Valley where crowds packed the park this past weekend. "All the wildflowers are fading quite suddenly," said the state's Poppy Reserve website on Sunday. "Although the rains seemed to come at the right time and drop the right amount, the bloom hadn't seemed to peak yet before it began fizzling out." more ›

The story could begin like this: "Once upon a time, some folks decided to plant a corn field on 32 acres of brownfield near Downtown Los Angeles." And maybe that's the story you know. But that's only one chapter of the space that is/was Not a Cornfield, because the story of the space began in the 1800s (and earlier, still) and is still being told. This is the Los Angeles State Historic Park, and its evolving landscape right now boasts some pretty stunning wildflowers most worthy of a springtime stroll around the premises. Learn more about the land's amazing and rich history first via their website, and then via a visit; the park is set up with informational markers throughout to enrich your understanding of this wonderful little place in the shadow of our skyscrapers and nestled against the Gold Line's tracks. more ›

Who wants to spend hundreds of dollars a year on a gym membership when Mother Nature gave us California's glorious and varied landscape to explore for free, right? Some of the spots get talked about more than others, while others just sit quietly, doing their thing, and possibly remain unexplored. Up above Burbank are some lovely hills--you may have driven up there to have a meal with a view at Castaways, or you may have stuck to the lowlands--and they boast Wildwood Canyon park. There are a couple of miles worth of trails (described as "moderately strenuous") open inside the park, so grab your shoes and some water, and head on over. more ›

It's Friday, so that means more updates from the Thomas Payne Foundation in their weekly Wildflower Hotline update. Here's what's going on in the immediate area: more ›

Today the Theodore Payne Foundation's 27th annual Wildflower Hotline debuted for the season, which will basically last through May. Every Friday, Emmy award winning actor Joe Spano of Hill Street Blues narrates the wildflower conditions starting in the southern deserts and climbing north along the coast to Central California. It's pretty thorough (listen for yourself at 818-768-3533) so the reports are also posted online with links. Here's what's going on in the direct Los Angeles area: more ›

Practically splitting Los Angeles in half, the Santa Monica Mountains are one of LA's biggest and closest outdoors assets to those of us living in Los Angeles. The National Recreation Area, under the auspices of the National Park Service, is a large area extending from the Caheunga corridor to the Pacific Ocean and is full activities from hiking Runyon Canyon to the hot topic this spring, wildflower hunting. The Park Service's Research Learning Center has it's own bloom report for the recreation area and a very helpful flower database tool. (Via Modern Hiker) more ›

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

Casey Schreiner at ModernHiker trekked over to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park this past weekend to see how the wildflower blossoms are doing: "While the wildflowers still aren’t out in force quite yet, there are a few areas in the north end of the park that are pretty colorful," he wrote. The park's website publishes a weekly wildflower report (scroll down) or you can call their wildflower hotline at (760-767-4684) for updates. Also: It's not just Anza-Borrego where wildflower blooms can be seen, check out bloom reports at Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley National Park, Mojove Desert National Preserve and the various high desert wildlife sanctuaries run by LA County. And the valley-based Theodore Payne Foundation runs a great hotline for local blooms that will begin on March 6th. more ›