Central California has no shortage of wildflowers in the spring! A few weeks ago, I shared the best spots in SLO County to spot spring blooms and wildflowers. Today, as your Central California real estate agent, I’d like to share the best spots to find spring blooms and wildflowers in Monterey County!
See Monterey recently shared a list with the top five places to see wildflowers, along with photos of what to expect to see in each location. Here’s a summary of the list:
1. Garrapata State Park. This is one of the area’s most popular places to go for hiking, because you get to experience everything from coastlines to redwood forests all in one place! When looking for wildflowers, expect to find poppies, wild irises and Indian paintbrush scattered on the hillsides and along the coastline. For the best wildflower sights, See Monterey recommends Calla Lily Canyon, where you’ll see dozens of calla lilies. Make sure to pack your camera!
2. Pacific Grove Coastline. This spot doesn’t require any hefty hiking. Take a drive down Ocean View Boulevard, or walk or bike along the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail. Pacific Grove is known for its carpeting of the magenta ice plant. Locals refer to it as the “Magic Purple Carpet.” See Monterey recommends packing a pair of sunglasses, because these little flowers are that vibrantly bright!
3. Garland Ranch Regional Park. This spot is great for hikers of all difficulty levels. No matter which trail you choose, you can enjoy views of Central California’s iconic rolling green hills, and you can enjoy bursts of color from wildflowers along the trails. See Monterey recommends the Terrace trail, which features monkey flowers and shooting stars in the Garzas Canyon section.
4. Fort Ord National Monument. For Ord is known for being home to a plethora of rare plants and wildlife, and this includes wildflowers! Whether you’re hiking or biking, the trails here take you through rolling hills, oak groves and gorgeous views of Monterey Bay. They also include wildflowers, such as sky lupine, poppies and wild daffodils. This park has 7,200 acres! You could spend days here and not get bored.
5. Toro Park. This is located in Salinas and is great for families. While enjoying the views of sky blue and royal purple lupine flower patches all throughout the park, you can enjoy grilling in one of the barbecue areas, playing at one of the many playgrounds, or hiking or biking on over 20 miles of trails. Mountain biking is a big sport here, too!
For a list of the most common wildflowers to spot in Monterey County, check out the list provided by See Monterey. Which wildflower is your favorite? If you’ve taken any photos, post them on my Facebook page! I’d love to see them!
Ready to make beautiful Monterey County your home this spring? Contact me, your Central California real estate agent, for help achieving all of your real estate goals!
Grace Borzini
Your Local Lake Nacimiento Real Estate Expert
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Oak Shores Realty specializes in Oak Shores at Lake Nacimiento properties. Please contact us today to get more information on Lake Nacimiento lake homes. Oak Shores Realty can also provide you an insiders “Lake Nacimiento Buying Guide” with great information including maps and market information.