California’s deserts ablaze with wildflowers

After five years of drought, wildflowers are all the buzz this year. So maybe you want to plant some wildflowers of your own?

The Theodore Payne Foundation in Sun Valley will soon hold Poppy Day, where many spring perennials -- verbena, penstemon, sages and more -- will be on sale at a 10% discount. The March 29 event, which will be held 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., also will feature free workshops on “Butterflies of Southern California” (11 a.m.), “All About Leaves” (noon) and “A Native Cutting Garden” (1 p.m.). In addition, the foundation’s website has a wildflower hotline with tips on what’s blooming and where through May.

Here’s an update on some of Southern California’s deserts.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park: This state park was all the rage the past few weeks, with amazing colors in the north end of the park. But a week or so of 80-plus temperatures mean the flowers are fading fast. There’s probably just one more week left to see the carpets of phacelia, desert dandelions, sand verbena and primrose, says a visitors center spokeswoman. The south end of the park -- at higher elevation -- is showing some blooms too. But the cactus and fiery red ocotillos will be starting to pop in the coming weeks. Take a look at the website for a map of blooms and updates.

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve: One thing to remember: This parkland isn’t only about poppies. The state flowers are starting to bloom, mostly on the south sides of the hills, according to the state reserve’s website, but there are plenty of other things popping too: Joshua trees, goldfields and purply-blue lupine. This is one of those places where, in a good year, the hillsides look like orange carpets. We’re not there yet, but it all looks pretty promising. Peak season, the website says, is usually mid-April, but it looks like the end of March might be the perfect moment. Click here to see real-time photos of how the preserve’s colors are progressing and to read up on Research Field Notes and Observations.

Joshua Tree National Monument: Wildflowers are at peak or just beyond in the south part of the park, particularly Pinto Basin and Cottonwood Canyon, according to the visitors center. Expect to see lupine, poppies, chia and more. The north side has sparse wildflowers, but the namesake plant -- Joshua trees -- apparently is sporting showy white blossoms. Check out Wildflower Viewing on the website for updates.

Death Valley National Park: Death Valley had an unusual rainy season that left the north and south sides of the park dry but the valley floor wet. The blooms peaked about a week ago; since then, temperatures close to 90 degrees and powerful winds have pretty much finished off the wildflower show. Park spokesman Terry Baldino says he’s starting to see green chutes at higher elevations, which means those blooms may erupt in another week. Baldino also says that a healthy snowpack this year should bring nice alpine flowers in April and May -- for those who brave the park’s triple-digit heat.