St Paddys Day Blooms in Central Cali

Ay, begorrah! I cruised thru Central California today, mainly on and near highway 58, and found that the abundant rains have triggered a fine wildflower season. Right now the best blooms are found under 2000 feet elevation, since it's been cool. This pic is on 58 west of the Carrizo Plain.

There are tons of fine fiddlenecks in this area. Frequently these flowers are a little drab...kind of a dull yellow...but they seem brighter and a stronger shade of yellow than usual.

On the Carrizo Plain, Soda Lake is pretty much full this spring. Empty country hereabouts.

The Carrizo lies at about 2000 feet, and the flowers are still patchy in some areas. In others, not so.

Perhaps the gaudiest flower display I found all day was right near the end of the journey, in the Tehachapi foothills just east of Arvin. This spot is only about a thousand feet above sea level, and lupines, poppies, fiddlenecks, and other flowers were thriving. Quite a contrast to summer in this area, when it's hot, brown, and rather godforsaken. That's one of the beauties of wildflowers in dry areas...for a few short weeks they turn barren country into paradise.

Thriving poppies near Arvin.