Guide to Viewing Local Wildflowers

Today is the first full day of spring and a brilliant assortment of flowers--from California lilacs to orange poppies--are beginning to bloom in Southern California. Here are some key locations:

* The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, 15 miles west of Lancaster, is the only reserve of its kind dedicated to the official state flower. Park officials expect the most plentiful blooms during the first three weeks of April. Call (805) 724-1180 or (805) 942-0662.

* The Theodore Payne Foundation Wildflower Hot Line, (818) 768-3533, is a 24-hour recorded message that tells where to find some of the Southland’s most spectacular displays. The foundation has a wildflower growing demonstration project, Flowerhill, in Sun Valley. Members will be leading walks on the grounds Saturdays and Sundays at 9 a.m. from April 1 through mid-May. Call (818) 768-1802 for tour information.

* Earthside Nature Center in Pasadena will be sponsoring the annual wildflower walkabouts for families at the center’s two-acre native plant garden in Pasadena. Guided tours of a redwood grove, desert oasis and other native habitats in full bloom will be given on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call (818) 447-2830.

* The California Native Plant Society’s Los Angeles/Santa Monica Mountains chapter has a number of field trips and wildflower walks planned for the desert, coastal and mountain areas in coming weeks, including a wildflower show and plant sale April 15 and 16. (213) 933-8993

SCIENCE POLICY

* The Skeptics Society Conference is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday at Caltech’s Baxter Lecture Hall, continuing Saturday evening at the Doubletree Hotel in Pasadena. Author Frank Tipier will discuss “The Physics of Immortality,” experts will speak on the “Myth of Warfare Between Science and Religion” and “Can Science Really Prove God?” and the evening keynote address will be given by James Randi. (818) 794-3119

HEALTH/MEDICINE

* St. John’s Hospital and Health Center emergency room medical staff will discuss how to respond if a child experiences a medical emergency such as choking, burns or poisoning at 7:30 tonight in the Main Annex Auditorium. (310) 829-8453