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Field Trip: Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve
cbds) ^ | April 21, 2011 11:51 AM

Posted on 04/23/2011 8:33:01 AM PDT by BenLurkin

Our state flower is the California poppy, a perennial wildflower that begins to bloom in late winter with April being the usual height of its blooming season. The best spot to see it in all its glory is in Los Angeles County, at the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve where the elevation and climate are ideal for the flowers, which bloom spectacularly in the spring. With the right balance of rainfall and sunshine, there are years when all 1,745 acres of the Reserve are ablaze in orange poppy blossoms.

(Excerpt) Read more at losangeles.cbslocal.com ...


TOPICS: Arts/Photography; Travel
KEYWORDS: daytrip; hiking; poppyreserve

1 posted on 04/23/2011 8:33:03 AM PDT by BenLurkin
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WEBSITE: http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=627

Northern Los Angeles County. Take the 14 north to Avenue I, exit and go west about 12 miles.

There aren’t usually all that many poppies, but still it is a nice place. Great place for easy hiking. Bring a floppy hat that ties under your chin — expect lots of wind and sun.

The warner the day the more poppies you will see.


2 posted on 04/23/2011 8:33:48 AM PDT by BenLurkin (This post is not a statement of fact. It is merely a personal opinion -- or humor -- or both)
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To: BenLurkin

arent poppies used to make opium? or a different kind of poppies?


3 posted on 04/23/2011 8:35:25 AM PDT by Mr. K (this administration is WEARING OUT MY CAPSLOCK KEY~!! [Palin/Bachman 2012])
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To: Mr. K

different kind


4 posted on 04/23/2011 8:36:39 AM PDT by BenLurkin (This post is not a statement of fact. It is merely a personal opinion -- or humor -- or both)
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To: BenLurkin
Used to see stretches of these in the Sonoran desert outside Tucson and on the Papago Reservation. Probably not safe to wander too far out there now.
5 posted on 04/23/2011 8:43:44 AM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: BenLurkin

The fun thing about these hardy little flowers is that they spring up everywhere - especially in places where there are no plants at all - parking lots, sidewalks, even roads. I love this time of year!


6 posted on 04/23/2011 8:48:55 AM PDT by tisket ("So many guns around town and so few brains." - Humphrey Bogart in "The Big Sleep")
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To: BenLurkin

That area has increased logarithmically in population. I remember when Littlerock was a town of 300. The massive peach orchards are all about gone too.


7 posted on 04/23/2011 8:49:25 AM PDT by vetvetdoug
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To: BenLurkin
I visited there a few years ago & it was really cool!

Photobucket
8 posted on 04/23/2011 8:50:50 AM PDT by stylecouncilor (What Would Jim Thompson Do?)
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To: BenLurkin
Poppy_Field8 Poppy_Field5 Poppy_Field4
9 posted on 04/23/2011 8:51:38 AM PDT by Always Independent
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To: Always Independent
Photos from a prior year?

I've heard that
"Although the poppy blooms are a bit sparse, there are still plenty of other beautiful wildflowers to be seen along the Reserve’s eight miles of trails."
is a kind assessment as of mid-April.

10 posted on 04/23/2011 9:13:23 AM PDT by norton
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To: Always Independent

Great pictures!


11 posted on 04/23/2011 9:15:23 AM PDT by BenLurkin (This post is not a statement of fact. It is merely a personal opinion -- or humor -- or both)
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To: norton; Always Independent

Mrs. Lurkin and I were there last weekend and the pictures, very beautiful, are NOT how it looks this year.


12 posted on 04/23/2011 9:18:33 AM PDT by BenLurkin (This post is not a statement of fact. It is merely a personal opinion -- or humor -- or both)
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To: BenLurkin
A lot of folks on FR like to slam CA. Not that it's not warranted in most cases...but they do take prurient joy in it.

Many of those have never been here.

Outside the cities it's one of the most beautiful places on earth with nearly perfect weather.

AND San Francisco is the most beautiful city in the Americas.

13 posted on 04/23/2011 9:39:02 AM PDT by Mariner (USS Tarawa, VQ3, USS Benjamin Stoddert, NAVCAMS WestPac, 7th Fleet, Navcommsta Puget Sound)
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To: norton
Yes they are from two years ago. I heard that they weren't as plentiful. Just wanted to show preserves potential. The rest of the pics:

14 posted on 04/23/2011 11:04:23 AM PDT by Always Independent
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