Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve

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Image credited to Rachel B.

California Poppies are in bloom at the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve.

Rachel B., Editor-in-chief

It’s Poppy Season! And boy, is it beautiful! Hundreds of vibrant orange, teacup-shaped flowers sprinkle the green hills of the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve in Lancaster, California. Home of the state flower, the California Poppy, this park openly exhibits these dazzling plants. But, these flowers aren’t here all year-long. With the rain we’ve finally been receiving, we are able to catch them in bloom from late winter through spring (basically, right about now!).

My one-day trip to this natural phenomena was unforgettable. Itchy and hot, but unforgettable. The whole park is basically dirt hiking trails surrounded by flowers. As long as you wear comfortable clothing and bring water, a hat, and sunscreen, you’ll probably survive. Unfortunately, I wore black jeans and Converse, along with a turtleneck. Remind me never to do that again!

Attracting multitudes of tourists and even just families in need of fresh air (that’s my family), there’s no doubt that this home of the state flower is a popular state park. There were multiple spots for stunning pictures. Just don’t leave the trail; rattlesnakes have been sighted. The car ride from Rancho to Lancaster is about an hour and a half. But, if you’re not the driver (sorry Dad), a cup of Starbucks will be enough to make the ride seem like nothing.

Sure parking was $10, but that was a pretty good deal for the gorgeous poppies I was able to see. If you wake up one weekend morning and have the urge to smell flowers, take a ride to the Antelope Poppy Reserve. You’ll know you’re there when you spot what looks like a sea of mustard and buffalo sauce covering the grass ahead.