The sun is finally shining, and the wildflowers are exploding across California.
The extraordinary “super bloom” is a by-product of the season’s extra wet winter following a drought period.
The California Department of Parks and Recreation created a website with places where a super bloom is either underway or set to begin in the coming weeks. As of last week, four Bay Area locations were listed, including Mount Tamalpais State Park, China Camp State Park, Trione-Annadel State Park, and Sugarloaf Ridge State Park.
Meanwhile, Park officials in Santa Clara County compiled their own list of local places to check out the colorful wildflowers through May. That list includes Stiles Ranch Trail at Santa Teresa, Calero, Coyote Lake Harvey Bear, Almaden Quicksilver, and Joseph D. Grant. Visitors can also find flower hot spots using the county’s interactive map.
Santa Clara County Park visitors are encouraged to stay on established trails and avoid walking, laying, or standing on the flowers. They also ask visitors to throw their trash away in designated bins.
Wildflowers on display include the California poppy, lupine, buttercups, and fiddlenecks.