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Overview: Due to its serpentine soils, this preserve boasts some of the greatest wildflower diversity in the Bay Area. Many of these diverse flowers bloom earlier in the season, so head out to Edgewood to catch some of these first blooms. So far, folks have seen warrior’s plume (Pedicularis densiflora), suncups (Taraxia ovata), Fremont's deathcamas (Toxicoscordion fremontii), Pacific hound's tongue (Adelinia grandis), and even some silver bush lupine (Lupinus albifrons). For more flower sightings, Friends of Edgewood volunteers do a weekly Wildflower Survey(!).
Trail Tips: Warrior’s plume is really popping right now along the Sylvan Trail. Also check out the Franciscan Trail and Serpentine Trail for a good diversity of blooms.
Official Web Page (always check before visiting): Edgewood County Park & Natural Preserve
Alternative Parks: Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve, Crystal Springs Regional Trail
What's Blooming Now: (share your observations using iNaturalist)

Overview: Head to Huddart County Park to see some awesome redwood understory blooms. Pacific trilliums (Trillium ovatum), milkmaids (Cardamine californica), Gray’s anemones (Anemonoides grayi), Pacific hound’s tongue (Adelinia grandis), California fetid adder’s tongue (Scoliopus bigelovii), and warrior’s plume (Pedicularis densiflora) have all been spotted in this preserve.
Trail Tips: The greatest diversity of flowers can be found along the Richard’s Road Trail near West Union Creek. The Bay Tree Trail and Canyon Trail are also beginning to bloom!
Official Web Page (always check before visiting): Edgewood County Park & Natural Preserve
Alternative Parks: Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, Wunderlich County Park
What's Blooming Now: (share your observations using iNaturalist)

Overview: Though this preserve is small, its blooms are mighty. Thornewood is a great location to see early season blooms in the redwood forest. Currently, you can find warrior’s plume (Pedicularis densiflora), Pacific hound’s tongue (Adelinia grandis), flowering manzanitas (Arctostaphylos sp.), chaparral currant (Ribes malvaceum), and lots of California fetid adder’s tongue (Scoliopus bigelovii). Parking is limited, so consider visiting during the weekdays, or earlier in the day on weekends.
Trail Tips: Most of these flowers can be spotted along the Schilling Lake Trail. Look for California fetid adder’s tongue in the areas along the Bridle Trail near Dennis Martin Creek.
Official Web Page (always check before visiting): Edgewood County Park & Natural Preserve
Alternative Parks: El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve, Windy Hill Open Space Preserve
What's Blooming Now: (share your observations using iNaturalist)

Overview: Sweeney Ridge has been blooming early this year! You can currently find checkerbloom (Sidalcea malviflora), milkmaids (Cardamine californica), footsteps of spring (Sanicula arctopoides), suncups (Taraxia ovata), coast rockcress (Arabis blepharophylla) and some early-blooming mule’s ears (Wyethia sp.). Since this preserve is so close to the coast, you can also find some lovely coastal flower species here like tidy tips (Layia platyglossa), coast paintbrush (Castilleja affinis affinis), and seaside woolly sunflower (Eriophyllum staechadifolium).
Trail Tips: The entire length of the Sweeney Ridge Trail is good for finding wildflowers. This trail will take you to the Portolá Expedition's "discovery" site of San Francisco Bay as well!
Official Web Page (always check before visiting): Edgewood County Park & Natural Preserve
Alternative Parks: Mori Point, Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve, Crystal Springs Regional Trail
What's Blooming Now: (share your observations using iNaturalist)

Overview: Many types of wildflowers have already popped up in this preserve. There are a couple large patches of warrior’s plume (Pedicularis densiflora) scattered throughout the preserve. You can also find common fiddlenecks (Amsinckia menziesii), Pacific hound’s tongue (Adelinia grandis), giant trillium (Trillium chloropetalum), osoberry (Oemleria cerasiformis), and more throughout the preserve. Patches of woolly Indian paintbrush (Castilleja foliosa) are beginning to pop up throughout the preserve as well.
Trail Tips: There are big patches of warrior’s plume blooming along the Toyon Trail (along with some Pacific hound’s tongue and giant trillium). Seven Springs Loop Trail and the Hayfield Trail are also good bets for flower spotting.
Official Web Page (always check before visiting): Fremont Older Open Space Preserve
Alternative Parks: Stevens Creek County Park, Picchetti Ranch Open Space Preserve, St. Joseph’s Hill Open Space Preserve
What's Blooming Now: (share your observations using iNaturalist)

Overview: This preserve boasts an impressive diversity of wildflowers year-round, but head here now to see some unique early-bloomers. Padre’s shooting stars (Primula clevelandii), Henderson’s shooting star (Primula hendersonii), California saxifrage (Micranthes californica), Checkerbloom (Sidalcea malviflora) and buckbrush (Ceanothus cuneatus) are some of the more distinctive early blooming flowers that people have spotted here so far. You can also find more common, but still impressive early bloomers such as warrior’s plume (Pedicularis densiflora) and California golden violet (Viola pedunculata) in this preserve.
Trail Tips: Take the Mayfair Ranch Trail to encounter a diverse array of wildflowers.
Official Web Page (always check before visiting): Rancho Cañada del Oro Open Space Preserve
Alternative Parks: Calero County Park, Uvas Canyon County Park, Almaden Quicksilver County Park
What's Blooming Now: (share your observations using iNaturalist)

Overview: A diverse array of wildflowers is already blooming in this park! Small patches of serpentine soil can be found throughout the park, which leads to a greater diversity of blooms. Currently you can find California golden violets (Viola pedunculata), red maids (Calandrinia menziesii), gypsum springbeauties (Claytonia gypsophiloides), Padre’s shooting stars (Primula clevelandii), Fremont’s deathcamas (Toxicoscordion fremontii) and more throughout the preserve. Many of these flower patches are just beginning to bloom, so this preserve will only get better as the month goes on.
Trail Tips: Vista Loop, Rocky Ridge Trail, Bernal Hill Trail
Official Web Page (always check before visiting): Santa Teresa County Park
Alternative Parks: Almaden Quicksilver County Park, Calero County Park, Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve
What's Blooming Now: (share your observations using iNaturalist)

Overview: Pogonip is the perfect place to see some classic early-blooming wildflowers. The blooms of Pacific hound’s tongue (Adelinia grandis), Pacific trillium (Trillium ovatum), western heart’s ease (Viola ocellata), redwood sorrel (Oxalis oregana), milkmaids (Cardamine californica), and California golden violets (Viola pedunculata) are all abundant right now. There are even some early California poppies (Eschscholzia californica) popping up!
Trail Tips: Take the Lookout Trail and the Pogonip Creek Nature Trail to see some of the grassland wildflowers like suncups and a few early California poppies. Head deeper into the forest along the Fern Trail and the Lime Kiln trail to find trilliums, violets and more.
Official Web Page (always check before visiting): Pogonip Open Space
Alternative Parks: Wilder Ranch State Park, UCSC Arboretum & Botanic Garden
What's Blooming Now: (share your observations using iNaturalist)

Overview: You can find an impressive diversity of wildflowers in this small preserve near Scotts Valley. Padre’s shooting stars (Primula clevelandii), red maids (Calandrinia menziesii), suncups (Taraxia ovata), rusty popcornflower (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus), California saxifrage (Micranthes californica) and more can be found near the edges of meadows. The very earliest sky lupine (Lupinus nanus) blooms are beginning to poke up as well! You can also see some more classic forest species like Pacific hound’s tongue (Adelinia grandis) and western heart’s ease (Viola ocellata) here.
Trail Tips: The Blue Loop has an amazing diversity of wildflowers including shooting stars, suncups, saxifrage and red maids. The Orange and Green Loops are also great for flower hunting.
Official Web Page (always check before visiting): Glenwood Open Space Preserve
Alternative Parks: Quail Hollow Ranch County Park, Pogonip Open Space
What's Blooming Now: (share your observations using iNaturalist)

Overview: Wildflowers are beginning to bloom in the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park. The earliest bloomers are redwood understory flowers like California fetid adder’s tongue (Scoliopus bigelovii), Pacific hound’s tongue (Adelinia grandis), stream violet (Viola glabella), Pacific trillium (Trillium ovatum), and redwood sorrel (Oxalis oregana).
Trail Tips: If you are looking for redwood understory blooms like California fetid adder’s tongue, head to the Buggy Trail. There is a good diversity of blooms along the Aptos Rancho Trail and the Old Growth Loop Trail.
Official Web Page (always check before visiting): The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
Alternative Parks: Soquel Demonstration State Forest, Seacliff State Beach
What's Blooming Now: (share your observations using iNaturalist)