Pata de Guanaco (Cistanthe grandiflora) the Atacama Desert, South America

The Atacama Desert is one of the driest places on Earth. According to the Encyclopaedia of Earth, there are around 550 species of plants living in the Atacama Desert with over 60% being endemic.
Early in 2015, the Atacama Desert received a significant amount of rain, seven years worth of rain fell in twelve hours. Sadly as a result of the storm, people were killed, and thousands were left homeless.

The Atacama Desert, South America

The unusual amount of rain caused death and destruction, but it also gave life. Spring 2015 saw the usually dry and desolate looking landscape transform into a bright and vibrant landscape of pinks and purples.
The Pink Cistanthe grandiflora and hundreds of other flowering species emerged in a rare display called “Desierto Florido” or ” Flowering Desert”.
By the end of 2015, the desierto florido was over, and the landscape returned to its usual state.

Californian Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, USA

The Californian Poppy is native to the US and Mexico and is the official state flower of California. Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve is a 1745 acre reserve that turns into a sea of orange during peak flowering season.
The dominant flower, of course, is the Californian Poppy but also you can see flowers such as the Purple Lupine, Goldfields, Owl Clover, redstem filaree and much more

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve

California state parks exclude grazing from livestock, and it does not water or stimulate the flowers in any way, the Reserve remains in its natural state. Every single flower in the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve is protected, picking them is prohibited.

African Daisy (Arctotis) Namaqualand, South Africa

Namaqualand is part of the Succulent Karoo and is an arid region of South Africa and Namibia. An estimated 3500 plant species that live in this dry place with around 1000 being endemic to the Namaqualand. The early Spring brings the South African daisy season, a very short period that transforms this arid land into an incredible rainbow of colours. Namaqua National Park resides inside Namaqualand and is one of the best places to see the spectacular spring flower displays and also conserves some of the world’s richest succulent.

Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) Ashridge Estate, UK

Less than an hour’s drive, Northwest of London you will find the Ashridge Estate, which is now owned by the UK National Trust. The Ashridge Estate is a 5000-acre property and is one of the best places in the world to see living carpets of the Common Bluebell. According to the National Trust property manager, Graeme Cannon, the UK has between 25 to 50 percent of the world’s population of Bluebells. The first shoots of the Bluebells appear in January, and the flowers bloom for a very short period from April to May. Unfortunately, the Native Bluebell is now being threatened by not only people but also the Spanish Bluebell, which produces little to no scent compared to the Common Bluebell.

Indian Paintbrushes (Castilleja spp.) and Texas Bluebonnets (Lupinus spp.) Texas

A common sight in some parts of Texas are the Indian Paintbrushes and Texas Bluebonnets. The Texas Bluebonnet is a biennial plant endemic to Texas and is also the chosen State flower (includes five species of the Lupinus). Only a small portion of Texas has the prime soil and climate for the Bluebonnets so the best place to start would be Ennis, Texas, the official Bluebonnet city of Texas and the best time of year is between Mid-March and Mid-April. Apart from their great looks, the Bluebonnets are natural fertilisers by improving levels of nitrogen in the soil which is needed for most crops and grass for livestock.

Paintbrushes (Castilleja spp.) and Texas Bluebonnets (Lupinus spp.) Texas

The Indian Paintbrush is also known as the Texas Paintbrush and a few other paintbrush names, they are a red to orange colour and Bloom time is from March to May. The flowers of the Indian Paintbrush were often consumed by the Native American’s as a side dish with fresh greens as well as many other uses such as a treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, immune system enhancer and treatment for rheumatism. However, they can be potentially toxic if the roots or green parts of the plant are consumed.

Red Field Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) France

Talk to any French farmer and they will most likely tell you that the poppies you see throughout France during late spring are an invasive weed. Although it may appear that French farmers are growing this poppy in their fields as a crop, they are not. The only species of Poppy to be grown as a crop on a large scale would be the Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) used in making morphine, codeine and illegal drugs, but it’s illegal to cultivate in most developed countries.

Photo courtesy of Antonio Cinotti ( CC )

Castelluccio di Norcia is a beautiful little town, well known for its lentil’s and situated in the Mount Sibillini National Park. Between late May and early July (depending on weather), you will find the plateau near Mount Vettore transform into a rainbow bursting with colours.

Castelluccio di Norcia, Italy

The flowers are a mixture of lentils but also you may see narcissuses, buttercups, violets, poppies,  Eugenia’s violet’s, oxalis, clovers and much more. Each year the plain’s erupt in entirely different colours, you cannot predict which flowers will be the dominant colour or species.

The Swiss Alps, Switzerland

Switzerland has over 60,000 kilometres of well maintained and historic walking tracks span the Swiss Alps with tracks suiting all hikers. From Mid-June to Mid-August the lush valleys and mountain fields explode into a myriad of wildflower colours. Even if you miss the fields of flowers, you will not be disappointed with what the Swiss Alps have to share with you. Your eyes will give you a hug (not literal) for indulging them in the huge variety of wildflower colours, from blue, to purple, yellow to pink, green to white and all many more shades.

Swiss Alps, Switzerland

A few of the Alpine flowers are endangered, much more are protected, and a couple of them are poisonous! So follow the Swiss Alp’s national park motto: Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints on marked trails! While you explore the pristine wilderness, you may see a few flowers including Orchids, Gentians, Daisies, Rhododendron’s, Bell-flowers, buttercups, Saxifraga, Alpine rock Jasmine and of course, Switzerland’s national flower the Edelweiss. (plus a whole lot more!)

Everlastings (Rhodanthe spp.) Western Australia

Western Australia is the place to see in Australia for flower lovers. Western Australia is home to over 12,000 species of flowers with sixty percent of these flowers can only be found here. Everlastings are native to Western Australia where they carpet massive areas of the countryside, roadsides and gardens during the spring. Kings Park in Perth is an excellent place to see a lot of Western Australia’s native flowers, including the Everlastings and the park, is located very close to the city, perfect for a day trip.

Everlastings (Rhodanthe spp.) Western Australia

Everlastings are very hardy and adaptable and can spring up anytime the conditions suit. Flowering period lasts 4 to 10 weeks and the best time to see these beautiful fields of flowers in the wild is between August and November. Check out our Australian Wildflowers for more.