Welcome to the Southern California Desert Wildflower Challenge! If you’re looking for a fun and educational activity to do with your family, friends, or kids, why not take a hike and identify the beautiful wildflowers of the region? With so many stunning varieties to discover, including desert bluebells, California poppies, chia, desert chicory, notch-leaf scorpionweed, California primrose, and Fremont’s pincushion, whispering bells, and many others, you’re sure to have a blast exploring the natural beauty of the Southern California deserts.
But the fun doesn’t stop there! As an added bonus, try to spot some local wildlife, like a lizard or a cactus, or even a cholla. You can turn your wildflower hike into a game, challenging each other to see who can identify the most species or spot the most interesting creatures. So grab your hiking boots, bring some water and sunscreen, and get ready for a day of adventure and discovery in the beautiful Southern California wilderness.
If you want to learn more about Southern California Desert wildflowers, have a look at Desert Wildflowers.
I can recommend iNaturalist as a great resource to identify wildflowers and other species. Download the app and start learning!
How to play
- Go outside!
- Bring your family and friends along! Kid-friendly!
- Give everyone a sheet (or all 3 sheets) and go on a wildflower scavenger hunt!
- Record location and date of each find, if you take the challenge over a longer period of time.
- Hey – you can even make it a bingo game (3 in a row)!
- And SHARE on social media with #desertwildflowerchallenge
Last, but not least, leave a comment below once you have completed the wildflower challenge and share your experience. Did you find all the wildflowers? Did you play it as a bingo game? Which wildflower is your favorite one?