A Sierra Nevada Foothill Wildflower Tour + Snow

     California’s Super Bloom has been touted for weeks, so we decided to check out the wildflowers in our local foothills. We live in the San Joaquin Valley, about an hour below Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks.

     Heading east toward the town of Woodlake in our trustySubaru Outabck, we turned north on Dry Creek Road. Soon we were surrounded by hills turned from brown to lush green by the recent rains. As we climbed, water flowed past us down Dry Creek and wildflowers began to appear.

First we encountered fiddleneck, a California native, along the roadside. Its common name is apparent from the shape of the stem.

Then to our joy we began to see California Poppies, their wonderful golden color painting hillsides and waving in fields.

As we continued to climb, we stopped often on the side of the road to take pictures and just take in the beauty. 

Looking down on Dry Creek which at this time of the year is fortunately flowing.

Redbuds also bloom alongside the road...

...and the buckeye trees, which will go dormant in summer, are an intense bright green.

     After about 15 miles we climbed out of the poppies to the oaken woodland, where our oaks are still dormant. 

     Unfortunately the bark beetle that took hold after our drought began a few years ago has killed thousands of pine trees that covered the Southern Sierra Nevadas. This picture was taken last year at Buck Rock Fire Lookout looking down through all the dying trees toward Kings Canyon on the upper right, Hume Lake in the middle. 

The area of Pinehurst got its name from the many beautiful 100-foot-tall trees that filled the hills. Now the hills are covered primarily with stumps and dead trees waiting to be cut down. 

     As we passed through the "town" of Pinehurst, we decided that as it was only about a half hour further, we needed to add Kings Canyon National Park to our trek. By the 5,000-foot level we began to notice snow in shaded areas, and by 6,000 feet, there were mounds of snow. At the Kings Canyon Visitors Area, at approximately 7,000 feet, we enjoyed  copious amounts of snow--enough to make us wonder why we had not brought our snow shoes and warmer clothing.

Snow on roof of Kings Canyon National Park Visitors Center.

Looking through the tunnel of snow next to the Visitors Center to Grant Grove Restaurant across the parking lot.

Snow in the meadow by Grant Grove.

     After enjoying lunch while looking out on the snow, we did a 180 and headed back home, enjoying even more wildflowers along the way...

...lupine along the roadside...

...meadows of white and yellow...

...and more beautiful golden hillsides of California poppies. 
It was in all a wonderful three-hour trek enjoying our lovely Sierras. 
     And once home we were treated to our own poppy-filled front yard.