Hills ablaze with poppies - Valley's reserve opens early

Valley Press ^ | on Saturday, March 12, 2005 | JULIE DRAKE

[BenLurkin]

LANCASTER - The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve is open and ready for visitors. State park officials opened the reserve on March 5, the earliest it has opened for full operation since 1976.

"All kinds of people are coming," said Judy Elgin, a senior park aide with Mojave Desert State Parks.

This year's California poppy crop is especially big and bright, a result perhaps of the blossoms receiving more nutrients that allow them to grow better, Elgin added.

In addition, many other wildflowers are in bloom such as owl's clover, lupines and cream cups. Wildflower displays are expected to peak later this month.

The Visitor Center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

The 1,745-acre state reserve, nestled in the Antelope Buttes 15 miles west of Lancaster, is on California's most consistent poppy-bearing land.

To reach the Reserve, go north on the 14 Freeway to the Avenue I exit and go west to about 150th Street West. Parking is limited on weekends so visitors are advised to come early in the day. Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Parking fees are $5 per vehicle, $4 for seniors. Passenger buses are $30 for up to 24 persons and $60 for more than 24 persons.

[beyond the sea]

I'm getting high just looking.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Do not go out Avenue D. My wife and I just got back(3/12/05 @ 3:00 PM) and there are very few flowers. I don't know what happened. There are a moderate amount on the Avenue I side. Sorry! Maybe it is too early?

I'll check in a couple of weeks and report.

[Serenissima Venezia]

Thanks for the info - after reading this, we got in the Cobra, put the top down, and headed from Bakersfield over to the California Poppy Reserve. It was packed - with people and poppies! Beautiful!! Orange poppies are far as the eye could see on the hills around the reserve (being cheap, we parked on the side of the road outside of the reserve. I've found in the past that there are usually more poppies outside the reserve than inside, for some reason...)

I would've like to go the Ave D route that someone mentioned, but coming from Bakersfield, it was closer to just follow the crowds.

If I can figure out how to post pics, I have several of blazing orange hillsides!