Winter rains could lead to spectacular floral display at California poppy reserve

A visitor to the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, hike the trails on Wednesday, April 16, 2008, during the height of the blooming season. The reserve is located in the western Antelope Valley at an elevation ranging from 2600-3000 feet, in the high desert in Lancaster, California. less A visitor to the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, hike the trails on Wednesday, April 16, 2008, during the height of the blooming season. The reserve is located in the western Antelope Valley at an ... more Photo: Robbin Goddard/LA Times Via Getty Images Photo: Robbin Goddard/LA Times Via Getty Images Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close Winter rains could lead to spectacular floral display at California poppy reserve 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

The winter rains could trigger a poppy explosion in the California desert this spring.

The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve outside Lancaster has received the minimum amount of rain, 7 inches, to make a vibrant bloom possible. The weather over the next couple weeks will determine the future of the sprouts.

A late freeze, a heat wave or a three-week stretch without rain could wipe out the bloom.

"We need the rains to continue on a regular basis to maintain the bloom," California State Park Interpreter Jean Rhyne says. "That's really what they need. With the past years of drought, there isn't a lot of moisture built up in the soil. If we'd had several years of good rain and enough moisture content in the soil, the plants would be growing early enough to carry them through a freeze or heat wave. The roots needs to be deep enough for them to tolerate extreme conditions."

At this point, Rhyne says the outlook is good but she won't make any guarantees and advises against making travel plans if you're only point of a visit is to see the poppies.

"In years' past, we spot that we have enough rain, we spot that conditions are perfects, we publicize that we're going to have a great bloom and people make plans and then something happens at the last minute," she says. "We really can't predict how good the bloom is going to be because there are so many factors out of our control."

If Mother Nature cooperates, the bloom would likely start late February and peak mid-March and Rhyne says it's definitely worth the trip

"Poppy blooms are incredibly beautiful," she said. "If we have a good year, the orange is so bright that it's almost blinding."

The most recent super blooms of poppies were 2008 and 2010.