California’s dazzling superbloom steals the show — despite vandals
California's wildflower season is attracting large crowds to areas like Bald Hills and Garrapata State Park, where vibrant blooms are currently on display. Despite the natural beauty, officials are warning visitors to avoid damaging fragile ecosystems, as vandalism and trampling have already caused significant harm. The bloom season continues in higher elevations and coastal regions even as lower-elevation sites fade.
- ▪A recent video shows vivid purple lupine blooming in the Bald Hills near the Lyons Ranch Trailhead in northern California.
- ▪In March, vandals destroyed a bed of calla lilies in Garrapata State Park's Calla Lily Valley, a site that had gone viral on Instagram.
- ▪Officials are urging visitors to 'take only photos' to protect wildflowers, as removing or trampling blooms damages the ecosystem.
- ▪Dutch Hollow Farms in Modesto closed early after visitors trampled thousands of tulips.
- ▪The 2026 wildflower season is described as 'moderate-to-strong,' with blooms shifting to higher elevations and coastal areas.
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Metro California park highlights wildflowers despite recent bloom vandalism By Daniel Farr Published May 2, 2026, 9:22 p.m. ET California’s dazzling wildflower season is turning into a lawless free-for-all, with vandals, selfie-chasing crowds and careless visitors leaving destruction in their wake. And now a fresh burst of blooms is drawing even more people outdoors. Newly released video shows a sea of vivid purple lupine carpeting the Bald Hills near the Lyons Ranch Trailhead in northern California, where the flowers are expected to last through May. 4 California’s dazzling wildflower season is turning into a lawless free-for-all, with vandals, selfie-chasing crowds and careless visitors leaving destruction in their wake.
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