We have had a very wet winter by Southern California’s standards, and with that rain has come wildflowers on the hillsides in the form of a super bloom.
Two weeks ago, it snowed; and we experienced our own version of a Polar Vortex. The hills near our home had a light dusting of snow, but sadly it only lasted a few hours. It was so very magical. Days later, I noticed that the hillside on my way to work was beginning to turn a brilliant golden-orange, so I did a little research to find out why.
Turns out, all the heavy rain over the last few weeks has caused a super bloom of poppies and other wildflowers. The hillside in Lake Elsinore off the I-15 freeway have become ablaze with California poppies, a much more pleasant view than the normally dreary brown hillside that was devastated by wildfires during the summer.
I’ll be honest, this was the first time I had heard of a super bloom; and according to my research, it only lasts a few weeks. So, on Friday, I took a four-mile hike after work through the fields of wildflowers and poppies. It was absolutely magical and so peaceful, and something I will always remember.
If you would like to see the poppies, plan your visit in the next few days. Take the I-15 to the exit at Lake Street. The best viewing is at Walker Canyon Trail, which has plenty of parking and is open to the public seven days a week. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes, because if you would like to experience the flowers and feel like you are surrounded by them, you will have to do a bit of hiking. Most importantly, stay on the trails, and do not step on the flowers.
