Santa Clara County, get ready for an explosion of wildflowers

The impacts of this past winter’s extended rainfall are far from over. But the good news is, what’s coming next promises to be extraordinarily positive…

According to Santa Clara County Parks officials, this spring will see an unprecedented display of wildflowers, among them the California poppy, lupine, and buttercups. Colloquially, this is referred to by some as a “super bloom.”

For the bloom to explode, an extended period of sun and warmth is needed. Such conditions will be present throughout May.

In a statement, Santa Clara County Parks Director Don Rocha said, “It’s been a cold and rainy winter for many in the Bay Area, but our reward will be an awesome array of wildflowers for everyone to enjoy. Our accessible trail system will provide outstanding opportunities for all to view, no matter their skill level. Once the bloom begins, Parks staff will continue to monitor the trails to keep visitors up to date for the best places to view the wildflowers.”

He was referring to the ArcGIS system, which allows trail users to find wildflower hotspots and view trails county-wide, along with relevant statistics. The top county parks for wildflower-viewing are Stiles Ranch Trail at Santa Teresa, Calero, Coyote Lake Harvey Bear, Almaden Quicksilver, and Joseph D. Grant.

Said the County’s statement: “Visitors are asked to stay on established trails and avoid walking, laying, or standing on the flowers. Parks staff also asks that people practice ‘pack in, pack out’ and to throw trash away properly into the designated receptacles.”