I love hiking. And one of my favorite things to do is take my kids hiking. It was tough during the early years but now, with no stroller requirements or restrictions, we are blazing trails all over Orange County. I love seeing how the trails we travel change, especially the ones we frequent. And when the flowers begin to bloom it’s like a magical transformation. We see them popping up at the nature centers that we visit, and along trails and hillsides throughout Irvine and Laguna. California’s state flower is the California poppy and one of the best places to see this flower in all its glory is at the Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve.

Do you notice wildflowers blooming in your area? I can identify a Redwood tree and a poinsettia, but beyond that, I’m pretty uneducated about plants and flowers. On our last hike at Laguna Coast we picked up a guide to the local plants and flowers on the trails. I hope to take a trip out this weekend so we can focus on learning about these plants. What are their names? What are their uses? It surprises me every time we go on a guided hike at the nature center and they pull pieces of a plant off and eat it, explaining how it’s great in salad or to use as bug repellent. I should know these things!

What wildflowers are common in your area? Do you take time to explore the open space and enjoy walking among the wildflowers?

Where to See Wildflowers

http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/viewing/

http://theodorepayne.org/education/wildflower-hotline/

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/best-places-see-wildflowers-around-us-180954459/?no-ist

http://www.modernhiker.com/la-hiking/5-best-wildflower-hikes-in-southern-california/

http://gocalifornia.about.com/od/topcalifornia/a/california-wildflowers.htm

Education and Activities

http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/kids/

http://www.wildflower.org/youthactivities/

http://www.education.com/activity/article/everyday-darwin/

http://www.education.com/worksheet/article/flower-identification/

Books