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.