Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve

and post-poppy fooding

Amsinckia menziesii (Menzies' fiddleneck) tower over the poppies.

Flelds of Eschscholzia californica (California poppy) and Erodium cicutarium (red stemmed filaree).

Just enough hills in the poppy reserve to make this shot possible without people in the background.

The Chen-Wu toddler toddling around.

A little before 12 noon is a little early for all of the poppies to fully open up.

Soaking in the sunlight.

Drinking his milk among the fields of poppies.

So. many. flowers!

It's not just poppies.

But it feels like it could be!

Even the side of the road almost a mile from the entrance is covered in poppies.

Surprisingly acceptable for the middle of nowhere.

Someone loves Porto's guava rolls.

Lucas is ready for dinner.

Tons of food from Emporium Thai.

Blend-O-Matic IPA.

Blending! t'was... not bad? But definitely a gimmick.

And a ginormous fruit tart, too???

This year's wildflower bloom is a superbloom! Lake Elsinore, Anza-Borrego, Antelope Valley, and more are all covered in wildflowers. Lake Elsinore in particular has gotten hammered by crowds, so instead of taking the Chen-Wu family there, we headed to Antelope Valley, hoping the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve would be less crowded and almost as spectacular.

Turns out we made a good choice. Still had to part on the side of the road, even with a late morning weekday arrival, but it was pretty awesome. Baby (er, toddler) Lucas managed to make it 2 miles of walking/carrying, and by the time we left at noon, the flowers, the orange-red Eschscholzia californica (California poppy), yellow Amsinckia menziesii (Menzies' fiddleneck), purple Erodium cicutarium (red stemmed filaree), and others were in their full glory.

Flowers in some areas on the side of the road were almost as dense and beautiful as the reserve itself, particularly the mile or so east of the reserve, as well as a few patches further down on Munz Ranch Road. Friggin' gorgeous.

Wrapped up with lunch at Vietnamese Noodles in Palmdale. Surprisingly good for being out in the desert; solid but basic pho, broken rice, and spring rolls.