One of the highlights for residents of Antelope Valley is the period from February to May when the California poppies are in full bloom. Fields are awash in intense orange with accents of other flora such as lupine, cream cups, and goldfields. Although the extract of the flower can be smoked it has a far milder effect than that of the opium poppy seed. Unfortunately, it is prohibited by law to take any of the plants off the reserve.

This sprawling flower garden at Carlsbad Ranch is awash in a rainbow of colors. There are a few main attractions here including the greenhouse "Tecolote Giant Ranunculus" full of cymbidium orchids and acres of fields arranged in spectacular blocks of blooming hues. The admission price is high because the fields bloom and are open to visitors for only a small window of time - from March 1 to May 14.

Because it is such a cute cactus the cholla has been nicknamed the "teddy bear" cactus. Naturally, that doesn't mean you want to touch, much less hug it. Unlike a soft teddy bear this one is prickly! This trail is pretty flat so it's more like a leisurely stroll rather than a strenuous hike. Keep a fair distance from the cacti so they don't stick you!

An entire field awash in the warm golden glow of sunflowers seems like something you'd only see in a magazine or on your Windows Spotlight lock screen. As long as you visit the Sunflower Farms in July you're almost guaranteed to witness their miraculous bloom. Postpone your trip any later than that and you'll miss this short-lived event.

Zucchini? Yellow squash? Nope, this is a luffa (or loofah)--a gourd that, when mature, will turn into one of those cylindrical sponges you get in fancy spa kits. The Luffa Farm in Nipomo boasts super-soft (rather than the typically coarse) loofahs which are supposedly gentle enough to use on a baby's bottom. Check 'em out!

Not officially flowers, but definitely worth adding to this list. These rolling hills covering 15-acres encompass an entire piece of art made of over 58,000 glowing orbs illuminated by fiber-optics. It was envisioned and realized by artist Bruce Munro.