This year’s El Nino weather has brought more rain to California, leaving the fields filled with wildflowers such as these wild mustard and lupin flowers blooming near Gaviota in Santa Barbara County.
Take an armchair tour of these spring meadows and get a good online resource for wildflowers in this area.
A pretty purple lupin was just some of the wildflowers spotted in Gaviota, just north of Santa Barbara, the day before the spring equinox.
The fields of wild mustard flowers can be seen in this photo of the Gaviota pier, which is currently closed due to a severe recent storm.
Here’s another mustard-filled field on a hiking trail to the Gaviota Wind Caves. We didn’t make it to the caves, but this blogger did. Check out these photos by California Though My Lens.
California’s native elderberries (Sambucus mexicana) are a riot of flowers at the moment. Eventually, these flowers will become blue berries beloved by many species of birds. These berries are edible if they are cooked. Here’s more information on this variety by Dr. Peter J. Bryant of University of California, Irvine.
The flowers can be used for teas and tonics, although we like them best for elder fritters. Here’s my recipe to try.
A bit closer to home, I found this unknown purple flower growing in the sand along the Ventura beach. Just another reminder that there’s lots of beauty out there – if you take the time to look!
Learn More
Database of Santa Barbara Flowers by SantaBarbaraHikes.com with photos
More California wildflowers at Ventura Botanical Garden
Wildflowers of the Eastern Sierras
{ 2 comments }
Wild mustard and Lupin flowers are my long time favourites because of their flashy appearance that brightens up the wild.
Thanks to the El Nino “there’s beauty out there for those who care to look.” Nice one.
So pretty!
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