Will SLO County see big wildflowers this year? It’s ‘promising,’ Carrizo Plain observers say

After last year’s superbloom painted San Luis Obispo County’s hills with swaths of color, you might be wondering if the area will see another dramatic display this year.

To that, the Carrizo Plain Conservancy has a one-word outlook: “Promising.”

In its first wildflower outlook report for 2024, the Carrizo Plain Conservancy said conditions so far are looking favorable in the area of the national monument.

“A visit to Carrizo Plain last week showed that the area was ’greening up’ nicely,” the group wrote in its update. It noted there was short grass growth because of cold temperatures and short days, and “plenty of the ubiquitous filaree (Erodium) seedlings.”

“This is a hopeful sign for at least a decent wildflower show,” the group said.

Additionally, there has been enough rain for Soda Lake to begin to show “a decent amount of water,” the update said. According to the report, the area has seen about 2.5 inches of rain since Thanksgiving, and more is in the forecast for early February.

Later rain is a good sign for the wildflowers since it means the grass will not compete with the seedlings as much, according to the update.

“That is why the outlook right now is promising,” the group said. “So please keep your fingers crossed, and we will update you regularly on how things are looking.”

Kaytlyn Leslie

The Tribune

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Kaytlyn Leslie writes about business and development for The San Luis Obispo Tribune. Hailing from Nipomo, she also covers city governments and happenings in San Luis Obispo. She joined The Tribune in 2013 after graduating from Cal Poly with her journalism degree.