Spring has arrived in the Golden State.
For the past few weeks, I've been captivated by the butter-yellow daffodils and golden poppies swaying in the breeze from my front yard in San Francisco. The grassy meadows of Golden Gate Park have been transformed into a carpet of tiny yellow and white flowers.
We don't know if this year's blooms will be as spectacular as last year's, but many Californians are hoping that heavy winter rains will lead to great spring blooms. The recent cold weather has slowed down the display so far, but things could improve in the coming weeks, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“I think it's going to be a really nice wildflower year as we get warmer,” botanist and California Botanical Garden conservation program director Naomi Fraga told the news outlet.
Regardless of what happens next, Californians already seem to be enjoying their blooms. Our readers send us amazing photos from their backyards in Los Angeles and the Bay Area, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and more. I will share some of them today.
Get a weekly report on the best flower attractions in Southern and Central California by calling our Wildflower Hotline. California State Parks also provide regular bloom information, and KQED and Oaklandside have listings of Bay Area spots.
When viewing wildflowers, remember to follow marked trails and take your trash home with you. Consider avoiding the busiest times, such as weekends. This will make it easier to avoid stepping on flowers when navigating busy roads.
“We want people to feel welcome and to come to the preserve and see this beautiful gift of biodiversity that we have,” said Ryan McCauley, communications specialist for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. We want people to come,” said Ryan McCauley, public relations specialist for the Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District. “But we also want to encourage people to be respectful.”
For many:
And before we leave, we have some good news
The Burbank Public Library's program PAWS for Reading combines animals with activities to help children improve their reading comprehension, ABC 7 reports. The program, which started last year, is held twice a month and introduces therapy animals who support children while reading to them.
BARK Therapy Dogs and Pet Partners will send a team of volunteers to the library. “We have kids who say they can't read, but once you sit with them for a few minutes, all their inhibitions disappear,” said Marcy Ellenbogen, one of Pet Partners' volunteers.
