Although the El Nino did not really materialize in Southern California, the south central coast of the state did get some rain.  And with rain, comes wildflowers in the Spring.

My friends Roy and Anne and I drove north of LA about 90 miles just north of the Santa Inez Valley, near Los Olivos in search of wild poppies.  We headed to Figueroa Mountain, a summit in Santa Barbara County in the San Rafael Mountains which are located in Los Padres National Forest.  Figueroa Mountain was named for a member of the well-known southern California family, the most eminent of whom was José Figueroa, governor of Alta California in 1833-35.

We got lucky.  We had great weather; the poppies were in full bloom; and the mountain was covered in wildflowers that could be seen from a great distance.