The offi­cial Cal­i­for­nia State Flower is the Gold­en Pop­py. Dis­tin­guished by its four bril­liant orange, satiny petals and gray-green leaves, it can be found bloom­ing from March through May on hill­sides and val­leys across California.

Where to See Wildflowers in Southern California

In SoCal, we had a great win­ter of rain in 2005 so my mom, sis­ter and I trekked up to Lan­cast­er to show my nephew the beau­ti­ful wild pop­pies in bloom. This is anoth­er great year of blooms and right now they are peak­ing. Vis­it the Ante­lope Val­ley Cal­i­for­nia Pop­py Reserve Web site to see cur­rent bloom photos.

California Poppy Festival

And check out the Cal­i­for­nia Pop­py Fes­ti­val in the Ante­lope Val­ley next week­end on April 19 & 20 – Cel­e­brate spring at the fes­ti­val and enjoy fun fam­i­ly events, great food, a flower & farm­ers’ mar­ket, art fair and even a cir­cus! Learn more at the Pop­py Fes­ti­val Web site. Grown your own field of pop­pies the easy way by using a “car­pet” of seeds. Get Orange Pop­py Seeds and watch those pop­pies grow!

Orange California Poppy