As spring approaches, photographers start thinking about taking pictures of wildflowers. In the U.S. there are quite a few wildflower hotlines that give you up to the minute reports on where concentrations of wildflowers are and when they are expected to peak. In addition, many of the national parks have wildflower reports, and there are quite a few articles online that provide good tips, too, as to the best places to find wildflowers. I took the picture you see here in the Gorman Pass an hour by car north of Los Angeles. You can see concentrations of California poppies and lupine right from Interstate 5. Other well known places for wildflowers are the bluebonnets on the outskirts of Austin, Texas, wildlfowers in Death Valley, California, the mid-summer bloom near Crested Butte, Colorado, the Fort Pierre National Grassland in South Dakota, the North Cascades National Park in Washington, and the spring flowers in the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee.
3 Comments
Mar 25, 2016, 4:02:34 PM
Candy McCormac (Mercer) - Jim, found your website, we are interested in wildflowers in South Dakota, especially Badlands and Black Hills which we will be visiting mid to late May. I have previously seen that the Fort Pierre National Grassland was a good place. But so far I have not seen anything about what time of year. Any information regarding South Dakota in May (or early June) would be appreciated.
Thank you Candy Mercer McCormac
Mar 25, 2016, 2:25:43 PM
Jim - Hi Candy, The peak times will be around May to June, depending on precipitation and temperature. For a more precise report of what's happening at any particular time, you can call the park and they will give you a wildflower report. Here is their number: 605 224-5517.
Mar 13, 2016, 12:34:12 AM
Daniel Reynaud - Hello, hurry up for the bluebonnets, they are out early this year. I already saw some south of Dallas on I-45 tuesday afternoon !!