April 22, 2010

Dear Miss England’s class,

Tidy Teddy came to visit me in Quartz Hill, California several weeks ago, he was very patient when I told him he was going to see the beautiful wildflowers, because we had to wait for them to bloom, sometimes there’s not enough rain, or sun, and sometimes it gets very windy here and the flowers close up.

We live in what is known as the Mojave Desert and each spring, the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve comes alive with the seasonal surprises of the Mojave Desert Grassland habitat.  The duration and intensity of colors and scents vary from year to year.  Although the wildflower season generally lasts from as early as mid-February through mid-May, the wild flowers need the right combination of rain, and sun to bloom.  At the Poppy Preserve there are eight miles of trails through the gentle rolling hills, which are covered in bright orange poppies.  The wildflowers aren’t limited to the preserve they blanket the valley floor and hills.  You can get away from the city and relax in the quiet of the countryside, with only the birds singing and hawks gliding silently overhead.  There are benches located along the trails making good places to sit quietly and watch for wildlife, such as singing meadow larks, lizards zipping across the trail, gopher snakes and rattlesnakes.  If you’re lucky, you may spot a coyote or bobcat.  Numerous burrows around the trails may house mice, gophers, kangaroo rats, beetles, scorpions, or others.  Tidy Teddy felt very lucky because we didn’t see any rattlesnakes.

Love,

Miss England’s Aunt Beverly