California park highlights wildflowers despite recent bloom vandalism

California’s dazzling wildflower season is turning into a lawless, free-for-all season, as vandals, selfie-chasing mobs and careless visitors leave destruction in their wake.

Now a new wave of flowers is attracting more people abroad.

Newly released video demos A sea of ​​bright purple lupine carpets at Bald Hills Near the Lyons Ranch Trailhead in Northern California, where blooms are expected to continue into May.

Without any official trails, visitors are warned not to trample fragile plants and to stick to paths made by animals in the areas.

Officials also push a strict message of “take photos only,” stressing that removing even a single flower harms the ecosystem.

The late season bloom comes as California wildflower locations change.

While the popular lower elevation offerings of Death Valley and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park have mostly faded, higher elevations and coastal areas now offer the best views.

Splashes of color are still appearing in places like Henderson Canyon Road and Red Rock Canyon State Park, thanks to weather that has helped extend the season.

But the increase in interest has brought a dark side.

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In Monterey County, a brazen act of vandalism occurred in the Cala Lili Valley in Garpata State Park in March, where someone decapitated a bed of popular flowers.

The site went viral on Instagram, attracting large crowds of photo enthusiasts.

Farther inland, clutter has become costly.

At Dutch Hollow Farms in Modesto, owner John Buss says a flood of visitors trampled thousands of tulips.

The damage was so severe that the farm was closed early, with Boss criticizing guests for treating the property as a backdrop rather than a working farm.

While officials have not officially called 2026 a “super bloom,” The state continues to see a “moderate to strong” boom..