Wildflower Finder

It seems like all of Southern California’s outdoorsfolk are chomping at the bit, waiting to set their sights on the next great wildflower bloom.

Sadly, it seems like we’re still waiting for the “Big Bloom” in the Santa Monica Mountains. While some recent hikes in Escondido Canyon and the Cold Creek Preserve had a fair share of buds and blossoms, rangers in the National Recreation Area say the first two weeks of March is usually the “official” beginning of wildflower season, and this year looks to be no different — but hopefully now it will be a little bit bigger, with today’s rainstorm!

If you’re headed out to the trails, be sure to check this page for periodic updates on bloom conditions in various parts of the mountains. And then, once you’ve got all your photos uploaded and you want to figure out what these plants are, try out the Flower Finder — a simple online form that helps you identify the flowers you saw in the wild.

And if you see any good blooms in your area, be sure to let us know!

Tagged as: bloom, cold creek preserve, escondido canyon, how to identify wildflowers, Santa Monica Mountains, spring, wildflowers