California Wildflower viewing April 24th, 2017

After all the rains this season ( especially after several years of less than optimal rainfall) the wildflowers have be purported to be amazing, Often touted as a SuperBloom.

Wanting to experience what has be exclaimed as California best wildflowers season in decades, we thought we would take a side trip as we traveled to Santa Barbara.(more about this in future posts)
Had planned had been to go to Carrizo Plain Nat Monument (see pics from friends’ visit last weekend).

But timing made the detour not viable.

All reports put Shell Creek as a superior  backup option so we tried that since it was on the way rather than a 3 hr detour. Shell Creek Rd lies between Hwy 46 and 58 in SLO County.

The northern access is filled with beautiful rural vineyards just pushing out their leaves and ranches. While filled with beautiful grassy meadows there were only interim patches of wild flowers

There were happy patches of yellow white daisies- tidy tips (Layia platyglossa) http://bahiker.com/flowers/tidytips.html
Joyful spots of blue lupine (Lupinus bicolor)

as well as some Fiddlneck and a small White blooming ground cover and remnants of dandelion like puff balls

UNTIL you hit the meadow closer to hwy 58. The area was surrounded by majestic oak trees but just a few hundred yards off the road was a  wondrous field of all – even some pops of Owls Clover.

The meadow emanated a Serene sense of peace- it made me want to skip through the paths and feel the joy of spring. Ok maybe that is going a bit overboard but it was amazing how a field of wildflowers lifted your troubles for even a short while.

I even saw some Ceanothus still in bloom further along Hwy 58

Now that the rains have subsided they do not expect the blooms to last much longer so if you want to experience one of the best wildflower shows CA has seen in ages be sure to add this to this weekend itinerary.