It's Wild Flower Season at Inyokern Airport!

Every few year a fortuitous combination of rainfall, temperature, and other mysterious forces combine to paint the normally pastel desert landscape with a pallet of vivid yellows, reds, oranges, blues, and greens. It's wild flower season in California's High Desert!

For a few magic weeks in the spring the desert around Inyokern Airport welcomes spring with the not-always-annual blooming of the desert wild flowers.

Usually the wild flower display peaks in March on the desert floor around Inyokern Airport (elevation 2,457 ft MSL) and extends into April at higher elevations.

Here are a few pictures of spring wild flowers in and around Inyokern Airport.

Every few year a fortuitous combination of rainfall, temperature, and other mysterious forces combine to paint the normally pastel desert landscape with a pallet of vivid yellows, reds, oranges, blues, and greens. It's wild flower season in California's High Desert!

For a few magical weeks in the spring the desert around Inyokern Airport welcomes spring with the not-always-annual blooming of the desert wild flowers.

Usually the wild flower display peaks in March on the desert floor around Inyokern Airport (elevation 2,457 ft MSL) and extends into April at higher elevations.

Inyokern Airport is located in the north-west corner of the Mojave desert at the foot of the eastern slope of California's majestic Sierra Nevada mountain range.

In late winter and early spring a fortuitous convergence of winter precipitation and warming temperature can sometimes turn the subtle pastel beauty of the surrounding desert and mountains to a spectacular display of spring colors.

This view from 6 miles north-west of Inyokern Airport shows Grapevine Canyon and the ridge line of the southern Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Warmed by the spring sun, the south-facing slope of the canyon provides ideal growing conditions for yellow Coreopsis and spectacular bright orange California Poppies, the state flower of California.

The canyon is not easily accessible from the ground (a ranch near the canyon mouth blocks access), but the view from the air can be spectacular when the wild flowers are in bloom.

The north slope of Short Canyon dappled with color, 5 miles west of Inyokern Airport. March 30, 2003.

The south facing wall of Indian Wells Canyon, west of Inyokern Airport, painted with yellow Coreopsis and spectacular bright orange California Poppies. March 30, 2003.

The Inyokern Airport south ramp behind a field of flowers. March 31, 2003

The approach end of runway 33. March 31, 2003.

Photovoltaic panels, providing power to the Indian Wells Valley Airport District office at Inyokern Airport, with the Sierra Nevada Mountains in spring colors in the background. April 1, 2003.

Steve Fossett's spectacular Cessna Citation X waits on the south ramp behind a carpet of gold. March 20, 2005.

A cactus in bloom on the east slope of the Sierra Nevada Range at about the 5,000 ft level. That's Inyokern Airport in the background. April 11, 2004.