It’s official: 2019 was not a wildflower #superbloom. Huh? But Internet said? In spite of what was trending, 2019 in southern California was just #spring. What about #elsinore #poppypocalypse? That was an entirely predictable social media feedback loop of herd behavior. As far as the flowers themselves go however, Elsinore has been exploding with spring poppies for years and is often spectacular. 20 years ago I drove with my daughters back into the Elsinore hills and we would see no people and only flowers all day. So yeah, #elsinore2019 was good, but it has been like that before and will be again. For those unaccustomed to California’s recurring #spring beauty, one’s first view of a hillside carpeted with brilliant and fragrant wildflowers buzzing with life may lead one to hashtag indiscriminately. #justsayno! A hillside of California poppies or a dune covered with sand verbena does not a #superbloom make. It is important to avoid adjective inflation lest #poppyhell on the I-15 be visited upon us again. Recommended are: #spring, #poppy, #california, and for a really spectacular pic, #wildflower and #verypretty. 2019 reminded me why #spring is one of the reasons — along with #ocean, #sierra, #hwy101 and #fishtaco — that I have lived my entire life in southern California. While all seasons are wonderful here, #spring is my favorite and this year was no exception. Below are some #spring2019 wildflower photos I gathered in outings 10 minutes to two hours from my home. Since Anza-Borrego experienced two blooms, these were made from mid January until late March. Thanks for looking, and remember that #superbloom need not be trending to see flowers next #spring.
Sand verbena wildflowers on sand dunes, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Image ID: 35113
Species: Sand verbena, Dune Evening Primrose, Abronia villosa, Oenothera deltoides
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California, USA
Sand verbena wildflowers on sand dunes, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Image ID: 35115
Species: Sand verbena, Abronia villosa
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California, USA
California poppies cover the hillsides in bright orange
Image ID: 35164
Species: California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica
Location: Del Dios, San Diego, California, USA
Dune primrose (white) and sand verbena (purple) bloom in spring in Anza Borrego Desert State Park, mixing in a rich display of desert color
Image ID: 35168
Species: Sand verbena, Dune Evening Primrose, Abronia villosa, Oenothera deltoides
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California, USA
Desert Sunflower Blooming Across Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Image ID: 35169
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California, USA
Desert Lily Hersperocallis undulata, Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Image ID: 35170
Species: Desert Lily, Hesperocallis undulata
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California, USA
Desert Sunflower Blooming Across Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Image ID: 35173
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California, USA
Sand verbena wildflowers on sand dunes, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Image ID: 35176
Species: Sand verbena, Abronia villosa
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California, USA
Dune primrose (white) and sand verbena (purple) bloom in spring in Anza Borrego Desert State Park, mixing in a rich display of desert color
Image ID: 35177
Species: Sand verbena, Dune Evening Primrose, Abronia villosa, Oenothera deltoides
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California, USA
Arizona lupine is a common early spring ephemeral wildflower of the Colorado Desert. The purple-pink flowers show a yellow spot on the upper petal, which changes in color to red once the flower has been pollinated to discourage insects from visiting it after pollination
Image ID: 35180
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California, USA
California Poppies, Rancho La Costa, Carlsbad
Image ID: 35184
Species: California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica
Location: Rancho La Costa, Carlsbad, California, USA
California Poppies, Rancho La Costa, Carlsbad
Image ID: 35185
Species: California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica
Location: Rancho La Costa, Carlsbad, California, USA
California Poppies, Rancho La Costa, Carlsbad
Image ID: 35188
Species: California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica
Location: Rancho La Costa, Carlsbad, California, USA
California Poppies, Rancho La Costa, Carlsbad
Image ID: 35189
Species: California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica
Location: Rancho La Costa, Carlsbad, California, USA
Desert Lily Hersperocallis undulata, Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Image ID: 35194
Species: Desert Lily, Hesperocallis undulata
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California, USA
Desert Sunflower Blooming Across Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Image ID: 35195
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California, USA
Dune primrose (white) and sand verbena (purple) bloom in spring in Anza Borrego Desert State Park, mixing in a rich display of desert color
Image ID: 35198
Species: Sand verbena, Dune Evening Primrose, Abronia villosa, Oenothera deltoides
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California, USA
Dune Evening Primrose bloom in Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Image ID: 35203
Species: Dune Evening Primrose, Oenothera deltoides
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California, USA
Sand verbena wildflowers on sand dunes, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Image ID: 35206
Species: Sand verbena, Abronia villosa
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California, USA
Dune Evening Primrose bloom in Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Image ID: 35207
Species: Dune Evening Primrose, Oenothera deltoides
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California, USA
California Poppies, Rancho La Costa, Carlsbad
Image ID: 35208
Species: California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica
Location: Rancho La Costa, Carlsbad, California, USA
Desert Sunflower Blooming Across Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Image ID: 35211
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California, USA
Dune Evening Primrose bloom in Anza Borrego Desert State Park
Image ID: 35216
Species: Dune Evening Primrose, Oenothera deltoides
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California, USA
Sand verbena wildflowers on sand dunes, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Image ID: 35219
Species: Sand verbena, Abronia villosa
Location: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, California, USA
California Poppies in Bloom, Elsinore
Image ID: 35225
Species: California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica
Location: Elsinore, California, USA
California Poppies in Bloom, Elsinore
Image ID: 35232
Species: California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica
Location: Elsinore, California, USA
California Poppies in Bloom, Elsinore
Image ID: 35246
Species: California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica
Location: Elsinore, California, USA
