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by Hilltromper staff

April 2, 2014—Rainfall may have been scarce this year, but Nature's a tough mother: she doesn't give up that easily. Drought might even help some native wildflowers by keeping thirsty nonnatives in check, as we learned on our quest to figure out what's going on with the poppies in Santa Cruz County this year. Besides, we're hoping the rainfall of the last week has given the wildflowers the moxie they need to get dressed up, shake it and get pollinated.

Here's what Dan Harder, executive director of the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History and a botanist who formerly directed the UCSC Arboretum, has to say on the subject. "From what I have experienced, everything (plants, fungi, animal behavior) is a bit off this year due to the lack of rain but with the recent precipitation there is possibility that the seasons are pushed later or earlier or, if plants have not flowered yet, could actually catch up and flower on time. ...

The Bonny Doon Ecological Reserve is quite spectacular now and will continue to shine for a while. Henry Cowell's was in spring bloom last weekend along the river and under the canopy, as was along Fall Creek. I had a chance to visit Pinnacles NP and Henry Coe SP recently and these locations were a bit early but now should be looking great. The Sandhills in Scotts Valley or at Quail Hollow should also be good now."

That's the expert speaking. A tip: this year, if you're thinking of going wildflower hunting, aim for spots that aren't sun-blasted: shaded waterways, redwood and mixed forests, north-facing slopes. The flowers will be out there, if not in the numbers or variety of typical years. Taking a tour can help you get the most out of your experience, so we've listed a few. And don't forget the 2014 Wildflower Festival at Rancho del Oso, happening April 26-27. Our botanical spies assure us that the short trail near the Nature Center hosts an impressive number of wildflowers each year, so toddlers, grannies and lazybones will get to enjoy the sights too.

Four Favorite Santa Cruz Wildflower Hikes

For starters, here's our guide to Wildflower Hikes in Santa Cruz County. It gives the lowdown on wildflowers in four distinct locations. It was written last spring, after a wetter winter than this one, but you'll get the basic idea about what to expect.

Waddell Creek (also known as Rancho del Oso), has a ton of biodiversity. Marshland, Monterey pine, mixed forest, chaparral, redwood riparian—each zone has its own blooming plants. It's kind of a wildflower wonderland. Our faves include Indian paintbrush, nightshade and the humble woodmint, which, though everywhere, has an elegant look to it. And if you like Forget-me-nots, don't miss this place. It lies 17 miles north of Santa Cruz on Highway 1.

The wildflowers of Wilder Ranch include sky lupine, iris, ceanothus, redwood sorrel and much more. The oak grasslands might be pretty dry this year but we'd bet on seeing plenty of sky lupine on Engelsmans Loop and Long Meadow.

Quail Hollow Ranch wildflowers are in a class by themselves because many of them occur in just one or two other locations on Earth. You'll have to make reservations if you want in on the Santa Cruz sandhills tour, but a leisurely amble around Discovery Loop will yield sky lupine, poppies and a gazillion tiny flowers like scarlet pimpernel and red maids, and the Sunset Trail will likewise reward.

Then there are the wildflowers of Pinnacles National Park. Not in Santa Cruz County, obviously, but close enough to be a nice day trip, and really rewarding. While the exposed trails like Juniper Canyon or Condor Gulch will show off mariposa lilies and clarkia, the shaded trails like Moses Springs yield some very showy delights of their own, especially Chinese houses.

Santa Cruz County Wildflower Calendar — April

Sun, April 6 — Quail Hollow Ranch Sandhills Walk The state-protected sandhills at this county park are opened exactly four times a year—every Sunday in April—to allow 15 shameless plant nerds the chance to ogle varieties and subspecies of plant found nowhere else. See flowering bush lupine, owl's clover, Santa Cruz wallflower, Ben Lomond spineflower and other unusual species in bloom. Make reservations by calling 831.335.9348 on Sat-Sun, 9am-4pm.

Sun, April 6 — Wildflower Walk at Butano Venture up the coast toward Pescadero with naturalist Scott Peden to see what's blooming among the redwoods. On his list of hoped-for sightings: giant wakerobin, pink flowering currant, canyon gooseberry, slim solomon's seal.

Sat, April 12 — Wildflower Hike at Rancho del Oso Scott Peden leads a wildflower walk at Rancho del Oso for a look at a biodiversity-rich area with Indian paintbrush, blue dicks, nightshades, iris and other treasures.

Sat, April 12 — Coastal Wildflower Day at Half Moon Bay A festival of flowers at the edge of land and sea in Half Moon Bay.

Sat, April 12 —Native Plant Sale at The Arboretum Plant some natives in your yard and have your own wildflower wonderland. Native plants provide crucial food for insects and birds, so your home turf will teem with life.

Sun, April 13 — Quail Hollow Ranch Sandhills Walk Find details above.

Weds, April 16 — Jodi McGraw on Sandhills Ecology One of the acknowledged experts on the Santa Cruz Sandhills shares her knowledge about the ecologically distinctive "Galapagos of Santa Cruz."

Sat-Sun, April 19-20 — Opening of National Park Week at Pinnacles Admission is free this weekend at Pinnacles National Park, a great place to see wildflowers.

Sat, April 19 — Wildflower Walk at Big Basin Docent Scott Peden leads an amble through the redwoods and other habitats of Big Basin in search of blooms.

Sun, April 20 — Quail Hollow Ranch Sandhills Walk Find details above.

Sun, April 20 — Wildflower Walk at Big Basin Scott Peden takes a slightly different route through Big Basin Redwoods State Park on a quest for wildflowers.

Sat-Sun, April 26-27 — Wildflower Festival at Rancho del Oso Two days of exhibits, tours, crafts and the wonder of wildflowers.

Sun, April 27 — Quail Hollow Ranch Sandhills Walk Last chance to see the sandhills at Quail Hollow until 2015! Find details above.