Chasing Wildflowers: A Southern California Spring Guide
Spring in Southern California is fleeting, but magical. After winter rains, hillsides burst into color, poppies, lupine, mustard, and desert blooms that only last for a few short weeks. It’s the perfect season for weekend drives, wandering trails, and discovering little pockets of wild beauty.
To celebrate the launch of our Wildflower Collection, we put together a small guide to chasing blooms across Southern California, plus a spring playlist and a few ideas for preserving the flowers you find along the way.
Throw your bag in the car, roll the windows down, and head out to explore.
Where to See Wildflowers in Southern California
Wildflower seasons change year to year depending on rain, but these spots are some of the most reliable places to find spring blooms.
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
When desert conditions line up just right, Anza-Borrego explodes with color. Fields of desert lilies, sand verbena, and primrose spread across the landscape, especially in March and early April. Drive through the park and stop along the roadside trails for some of the best views.
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve
One of the most iconic wildflower destinations in California. In good bloom years, the hills turn bright orange with California poppies. Early mornings and late afternoons are especially beautiful when the flowers open toward the sun.
Walker Canyon
This hillside trail became famous for its poppy blooms. When the season is right, the trail winds through vibrant fields of orange and yellow flowers overlooking the valley.
Diamond Valley Lake Wildflower Trail
This trail has become a favorite for wildflower enthusiasts thanks to its rolling hills and consistent blooms, including poppies, lupine, and brittlebush.
Carrizo Plain National Monument
If you're up for a road trip, Carrizo Plain is legendary for its “super blooms.” Vast fields of wildflowers stretch across the valley with the Temblor Range rising behind them.
Our Spring Playlist
Every good adventure needs a soundtrack. We put together a playlist inspired by the colors and energy of the Wildflower Collection, songs that feel like sunshine, open roads, and long spring afternoons.
Think of it as the perfect companion for a spring drive, windows down, wildflowers on the hills, and a bag packed for wherever the day leads.
How to Preserve Wildflowers
If you come across flowers on your adventures, remember that many protected areas ask visitors not to pick blooms so they can continue to grow naturally. But if you find flowers in places where collecting is allowed, here are a few ways to preserve them.
Press Them
One of the easiest ways to keep wildflowers is by pressing them. Place the flowers between parchment paper inside a heavy book and leave them for a couple of weeks. Once dried, they make beautiful additions to journals, cards, or framed art.
Dry Them
Hang small bundles upside down in a cool, dry place. This works especially well with flowers like lavender, strawflower, or small daisies.
Make a Memory Jar
A simple jar filled with dried petals, grasses, and leaves from a hike can become a small time capsule of a spring adventure.
Take the Long Way Home
Wildflower season never lasts long. The blooms appear almost overnight and disappear just as quickly.
So take the long way home this spring. Drive out to the hills, wander a trail, listen to the playlist, and bring a little bit of the season back with you.
And if you do spot a field of wildflowers, stop for a moment. It’s one of those small Southern California things that never gets old.
New Collection Release: April 3rd 2026, First Friday