Spring Season!It is time for California Poppy, a native, colorful wildflower, symbol of California.

Native flowers are always the most sustainable choice and, in a state, as California, where the nature experiment extended droughts, wildfires, and extreme heat, native flowers and plants can survive in the local climate and even help to save water. In addition, native flowers benefits local wildlife such as bee, butterflies, and birds. But what is the most Californian of flowers!?

The vibrant orange California poppy is drought-tolerant, easy to grow, and often reseeds itself. Due its beaty and resilience, in 1903, the Eschscholzia californica, was officially named “the state flower of California” and pictured on welcome signs along highways entering California and on official Scenic Route signs.

Popular known as California poppy, golden poppy, California sunlight or cup of gold and can be cultivated as an ornamental plant, with showy cup-shaped flowers in brilliant shades of orange, yellow, red and sometimes even pink). It is also used as food or a garnish. its petals close at night and open in the morning. It survives mild winters in its native range, dying completely in colder climates. Its native habitat includes California and extends to Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Sonora and northwest Baja California.

As springtime is coming, you can get ready for an eye-popping show at The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve. Located in northern County, it’s a protected area in the hills of Lancaster where, at the peak of the blooming season, orange flowers seem to cover all 1,745 acres (706 ha) and for best viewing, you should plan your visit for a sunny midmorning when it’s warm enough for poppies to open, as in a cold, windy and cloudy weather they may remain closed.

Other good locations where you can have a breathtaking view of the California poppy meadows in California are the Bear Valley in Colusa County and Point Buchon in San Luis Obispo County.

Poppies bloom in spring, and in cooler parts of the state, the flowers can last all the way through the summer