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 With the abundant rain this year, we can expect spectacular show of flowers this spring throughout California, many wildflower viewing locations and flower farms are only a short drive from the cities. Here is a list of places to visit this spring for the most breathtaking floral display:
1. Ranunculus at Carlsbad Flower Fields Located at: 5704 Paseo Del Norte, Carlsbad. Almost 50 acres of brilliant colors of ranunculus will be on display at Carlsbad Flower Fields. The petals of ranunculus appear rose-like when in bloom, with colors ranging from reds, oranges, pinks, yellows, and whites. The fields are open to public from March 1 through May 10 this year, from 9 AM to 6 PM daily. Tickets at $10/adult, $9/seniors 60+, $5/children aged 3-10. Web Site: official Carlsbad Flower Fields web site with pictures, and their famous Video Tour. 2. Daffodil Hill at the McLaughlin Ranch Jackson in Sutter Creek
Planted by the McLaughlins for over twenty years, there are more than 300 varieties of daffodils, and over 300,000 bulbs planted. The best time to visit Daffodil Hill is between the end of March through the first three weeks of April. Please call (209) 296-7048 for visitation schedule. Enjoy this beautiful photo slide show of the Daffodil Hill in Sutter Creek.  3. Descanso Gardens at La Canada Flintridge
At the famous Descanso Gardens, there are the Lilac Garden, the Japanese Garden, the California Garden, the Camelia Forest, the Iris Garden, and the International Rosarium. No matter what season it is, there is always so much to see at these wonderful gardens. Camelias are currently in full bloom, so are the magnolias, cherry tree and daffodils. In the next couples of months, we will also see lots of spectacular blooms of irises, lilacs, azaleas, tulips, wisteria and clivia, along with many varieties of wildflowers. More information at the official Descanso Gardens Web Site: http://www.descansogardens.org/site.  4. Joshua Tree National Park
During springtime from around mid-March , wildflowers become one of the most sought after scenery at the Joshua Tree National Park. This year, many varieties of wildflowers are already blooming at the lower elevations in late February. Be sure to visit the Cholla Garden and Octillo Patch for the gorgeous blooms. Web Sites: offical Joshua Tree National Park site for the annual Art Festival in April and see these latest pictures and flower report from Desert USA.  5. Almaden Wildflowers
Located at the IBM Almaden Research Center, 650 Harry Road San Jose, California (95120-6099). From Spring to June, the abundant and wide varieties of California wildflowers grow on the hills around the IBM Almaden Reasearch Center. The walking trails around the center allow closer viewing of the beautiful floral scenery. Offical Almaden Wildflowers site and the handy Trail Map. 6. Montana De Oro (Mountain of Gold) State Park The Mountain of Gold signifies the awesome scenery of California poppies in the spring. The best time to visit is spring during March and April. Contact Montana De Oro State Park by calling 805-528-0513 or 805-772-7434 for the latest update. Check out these Pictures and Slide Show. 7. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Wild flowers at the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park are beginning to bloom in mid-February at the lower elevations, but there are more buds and fewer blooms in higher elevations. The flowery scenery should be awesome this spring when the blooming continues into March and even April. Web site: Official Anza-Borrego Desert State Park site, and lots of great pictures of Anza-Borrego at Desert USA. 8. Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve Located at 15101 W. Lancaster Rd., Lancaster, California, Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve has the abundance of poppy plants around. We should expect to see more blooms by mid-March. The usual poppy season is from mid-March to Mid-May, and peaks around mid-April. You can call the hotline at (661) 724-1180 for updates. There is a $5 parking fee, $4 with a senior 62+ onboard, or $2.50 for vehicle with DPR Disabled Discount Card. These fees will increase beginning March 14. Web Sites: official Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve site and pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/amorimur/2357401894/ and http://www.pbase.com/tomsview/antelope_valley.  9. Lompoc, The Valley of Flowers
Located at Downtown Lompoc, Ocean Ave and C Street, the Lompoc Valley of Flowers with 1,000 acres of flower field has more than 200 varieties of flowers, and it’s awesome to go for a leisurely drive around the field that’s awash in such brilliant colors. Lompoc Spring Arts Festival: April 17-19, 2009 and Lompoc Flower Festival: June 24-28, 2009 in Ryon Park. Check out these pictures. 10. Other great resources These are all perfect family trip ideas, some of them are year round and many are especially perfect during the spring break and Easter holiday vacation. You can also check out these sites for more information: Next Step: Check out the special deals from Hotel.com.
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