Story By Sophie Pollock

Photos by Veronica Weber

Nature enthusiasts looking for a vibrant display of wildflowers this spring don't necessarily have to travel to southern California to experience extraordinary blooms similar to those captured by space satellites over Los Padres National Forest and Carrizo Plain National Monument last month.

Local naturalists are bracing for an explosion of wildflowers along the Midpeninsula that could provide some of the most breathtaking views in years thanks to the above-average rain this season.

"After the cool, wet winter, this season's early spring has all the right elements for a strong and lengthy wildflower season," said Amanda Mills, natural-resource specialist for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, which oversees more than 63,000 acres of open space in the Bay Area and is hosting a variety of wildflower walks and outdoor activities at its various preserves this spring.

Mills said Midpeninsula parks tend to see steady blooms from mid-April to early June. An array of buttercups, red maids, hound's tongue, shooting star, baby blue eyes, purple sanicle and popcorn flowers already line the trails, and it's just the beginning of the season.

Russian Ridge in Redwood City and Rancho San Antonio in Los Altos are two of the most popular trails for viewing wildflowers, according to Mills. Edgewood Park also puts on a showy display. (San Mateo County offers free guided wildflower walks covering about 3 miles through the park every weekend at 10 a.m., until June 4.) And tucked away in the town of Woodside, is Kite Hill, a small area that offers scenic views of the surrounding foothills and a field full of dozens of blooming wildflowers.

If hikers are lucky, they might see mule deer, coyotes, various birds and even a bobcat, Mills said.

"The trails offer beautiful views and a great way to get out of the hustle and bustle," she said. "It's a healthy activity both mentally and physically -- it brings stress levels down."

Those looking for a closer and more convenient wildflower-viewing escape can explore Stanford's 1.5-mile Matadero Creek Trail or the grasslands and riparian corridor at Pearson-Arastradero Preserve which is friendly to bikers and beginner and intermediate hikers alike, said Kathleen Jones, a park ranger for the City of Palo Alto, which oversees four preserves that span from the bay to the foothills.

"Everything changes when you get outside. You get a chance to slow down and breath," Jones said. "It is easy to get caught up in the details of daily life, but simply going outside can fix that...you feel renewed, like spring is supposed to do."

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