經過5年乾旱後，今年美國加州連續大降雨，導致漫山遍野鮮花盛開，尤其是南加州野花大綻放, 十分壯觀美麗。過去三週，吸引了無數國内外遊客湧入，把一些沙漠公園與加州罌栗保留區(Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve)擠得水洩不通。其實距離灣區比較近, 較少人知道的觀賞野花的好去處, 只需5〜6小時的車程, 就是蘆葦平原(Carrizo Plain)。
根據網站指出, Carrizo Plain 平時是乾燥的沙漠地方, 現在是近100%Superbloom, 開滿了色彩繽紛的野花，彷若故事中描繪的五彩地毯, 美極了。 其中是新建立蘆葦平原國家紀念區(Carrizo Plain National Monument)， 約為50X15哩的大型封閉平原, 聖安地列斯斷層(San Andreas Fault )從中穿過, 它包括Painted Rock, 那是印地安人幾千年前的彩繪岩石。由於其考古價值，2012年被進一步指定為國家歷史名勝。
We left home to go on Highway 5 heading south and took California Route 58 to go Carrizo Plain. Route 58 is a pretty road which is passing over Temblor Range (see maps below). 上面開滿了橘色、黃色與紫色野花, 我們人老體弱，沒法上去。 根據網站下星期平地是紫色的世界。(下面圖片) We drove around the Soda lake on 7mile Road, Soda Lake Road, Simmler Road and Elkhorn Road. Some sections are unpaved roads and are better with SUV's. However, the scene is beautiful. 油箱務必加滿汽油，因為附近沒有任何加油站。
The main flowers found in Carrizo Plain are:
黃色 Hillside Daisy (Monolopia lanceolata)
紫色 Tansy Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia)
藍色 Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii)
橘色 California Poppies (Eschscholzia californica)
很幸運，去年我們也看到了死亡谷野花大綻放 Death Valley Super Bloom。
Because it is so close, we stayed one night at Grapevine and took California Route 138 to go to Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve(加州罌栗保留區). 週末成批的遊客走上Poppy Reserve，停車場也沒位，許多遊客將車停在外面的路邊, 其實外面花開放更多。
Below pictures were from Wikipedia. First picture is San Andreas Fault looking northwest onto the Carrizo Plain with Soda Lake visible at the upper left. It shows how dry this place is. Second picture is painted Rock with the ancient Indian paintings shown in 3rd picture. The last picture taken recently, one day before our trip, by a worker of land management. It shows 開滿了橘色、黃色與紫色野花.
請看視頻，你有更清楚的景色。 In last part of 1st video, we were driving on Elkhorn Road which may be on or along San Andreas Fault.
