ON THE BLOSSOM TRIAL : SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SPOTS WHERE THE WILDFLOWERS BLOOM.

Byline: Paul R. Carbajal Orange County Register

Call it Bloom Boom

Mother Nature is about to display some of her best bouquets. Peak wildflower bloom time is just around the corner.

Despite a decline in precipitation this year at higher elevations, there is still plenty of color to be found. Here are some key locations for wildflower displays in Southern California:

Antelope Valley: Find flowering Joshua trees, California poppies, owl clover, desert dandelions, tidy tips, filarees, fiddlenecks and cream cups. The poppies - California's state flower - consistently flourish here with other native wildflowers. This is one of the few poppy-bearing areas left. Information: [phone].

Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve: This is a spotty area waiting to come into full bloom by mid-April. Expect to find poppies and a mixed bag of wildflowers such as goldfields, coreopsis, red maids and lupines. Some poppies appear to be drying up, but park rangers predict it could be a very good year, as others are starting to show some significant color. Information: [phone].

Anza Borrego Desert State Park: Because there was only 2-1/2 inches of rain during an eight-month period, you won't find the desert carpeted with colorful wildflowers. But if you know where to look, you can find ocotillo at its peak. At high elevations, look for desert lavender, tuberoses, popcorn flowers, Indian paintbrush, desert lilies and dune sunflowers. Information: [phone].

Cabrillo National Monument: Yellow encelia and lilacs are coming alive down the base-side trail. Also expect to see Indian paintbrush, milkmaids and everlasting California lilacs. Information: [phone].

Catalina Island: The island is near peak bloom. Along roads and hiking trails, you'll find an array of wild pansies, shooting stars, bush lupine, Indian paintbrush, mariposa lilies, giant coreopsis, wild brodiaea, clinging cleavers, bush poppies, wild hummingbirds, monkey flower and more. Information: [phone].

Cleveland National Forest: Expect to see California lilacs and manzanita blooms along Interstate 8. Information: [phone].

Death Valley National Park: Little rain has caused a very sparse bloom this season. Ocotillo and cholla at the north and south entrances are the few you will find in bloom. Information: [phone].

El Dorado Nature Center, Long Beach: Although the spread of wildflowers is not on display here yet, irises were spotted at South Lake. Expect to find monkey flowers, flannel bush, red buds, purple sage, oregon grapes, speciosum, Mexican sage, radishes and sunflowers in mid-April. Information: [phone].

Joshua Tree National Monument: Deanne Chatterton, Joshua Tree park ranger, said rangers are keeping their fingers crossed for a good showing by late April in the Mojave Desert's higher elevations. Information: [phone].

Torrey Pines: Blooms are in full force. A white blanket of flowers gradually changes into a sea of yellow. You'll also find blue-eyed grass, monkey flowers, Indian paintbrush, bush poppies, milkmaids, California poppies, sea dahlias, black sage, phacelia, sand verbena, beach suncups, deerweed, bush sunflowers, wild cucumbers and more. Information: [phone].

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area: Find coreopsis and red paintbrush along the coast, and green-bark ceanothus blooming throughout the mountain range. Patches of California poppies are scattered throughout the northern upper point of Mugu State Park. In some areas, you can see more than 50 species in bloom, including Parry's phacelia and canyon sunflowers. Information: [phone], Ext. 201.

Flower Hot Line: Theodore Payne Foundation Wildflower Hotline, [phone].

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3 Photos

Photo: (1-2--Color) Poppies are just a few of the brilliant flowers that could blossom in profusion around Southern California now through the end of the month.

(3) Lupine colors hills and valleys in Southern California.

Jebb Harris/Orange County Register