A surprise wave of poppies is blooming in Antelope Valley

If you’re looking to see poppies, floral fans know that Antelope Valley is the place to head. And while this year’s wildflowers didn’t reach full super-bloom status, thanks to lots of rainy days, there were lots more to see than there were last year. Poppy season typically lasts from March to mid-April, but alas, as of April 1, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve posted that the hot weather in Antelope Valley had officially caused the poppy season to end, with the namesake flowers giving way to silverpuffs and buckwheats.

But it turns out maybe that was nature’s April Fool’s joke, because this Wednesday, the Poppy Reserve shared that the park is experiencing a “second bloom” season—surprise!

In a social media post, the Poppy Reserve announced the new wave of flowers. Two of the park’s longtime volunteers theorized that the heavy rain SoCal experienced in February caused additional plants to sprout.

Poppies are show-stoppers when they cover the desert hillsides in orange flowers. But poppies are also fickle: If there’s too much rain, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve can only expect a moderate poppy season. Too dry? Not a great bloom either (but you could still potentially see some other wildflowers). But luckily, after last year brought only sporadic poppies, this spring’s conditions have been more favorable. Though if you want to catch the blooms at their height, there’s usually only a short window—making this year’s second chance all the more notable.

During a visit in late March, I spotted bright Cheeto-orange patches of poppies driving to the reserve along Highway 138. The most wow-worthy fields of blooms, however, were down the road from the reserve itself—so you need a car that handle the uneven terrain.

For now, the Poppy Reserve is encouraging visitors to drive over and enjoy the flowers. For a view of the fields of orange, they suggest a hike to the Tehachapi or Kitanemuk Vista Points—both a fairly short and easy hike from the visitor center. If you visit, just be sure to stick to the path and keep an eye and ear out for rattlesnakes.