Wildflowers

Traveling Highway 99 certainly is not the most exciting thing for most pholks, but this time of year it can be awe-inspiring at times.

Millions of California poppies, both golden and yellow, along several stretches of the iconic north-south route south of Merced and a few other spots are almost indescribable.

Yes Virginia, there is some beauty on Highway 99.

Last Friday afternoon, I made the trip north to the Modesto area and the abundance of bright poppies mixed with a few other wildflowers in the median and on both sides of the highway was indeed candy for the eyes and the spirit.

And what contrast from the service station signs beckoning us motorists to pull in and pump $3.59 to $3.89 gasoline or $4.06 diesel. California Golden Poppies always have had lots more eye-appeal to me than any golden arches, clowns in a box, stars with a funny face or any name with a “Jr.” or adobe tower with a bell.

Of course, you don't have to trek up 99 to catch the wildflower explosion. Horse Creek Bridge on Highway 198 near Lake Kaweah is treating hundreds of pholks daily and those who traverse Dry Creek road en route to Badger and other mountain spots are getting their eyes filled with seasonal color.

The only thing wrong with wildflowers is they don't last very long. The same goes for the blossoms on the variety of fruit tress in this great San Joaquin Valley of ours. And when the Sierra has on its majestic coat of snow and the skies are nearly smog-free, it is a magical time. How nice to not have messages crawling along the bottom of these awesome panoramas. No one yet has come up with a way to put “vote for me” across the Sierra or trim the blooms on a row of orchard trees to put some candidate's name in front of us.

Even if it's only for a few minutes, it's nice to listen to the blossoms do their blooming, count the colors, smell the sweet spring aroma and take a couple of gulps of fresh air without having to ponder the ups and downs of the stock market, sweat out the price of gas and be bombarded by political bantering or cell phone chatter.

So pholks, even if you can't find time to stop and smell the wild flowers, make it a point to check out the poppies, blue bells, sweat clover and assorted other flora and think what great rewards they are for some of those long dark, dreary and wet days and nights this past winter.

And, if you've got a couple bucks left after filling up you gas tank, how about buying a few packages of wildflower seeds and toss 'em in an appropriate place. Don't toss out the package.

It might be a little late for this season but wildflowers, being what they are, might decide to pop up next spring in some new places.

Mother Nature often needs a little help now and then. And next year, even she might not be able to buy enough fuel to drive up and down Highway 99 to do her thing and give us a little pleasure.

Miles can be reached at mshuper@valleyvoicenewspaper.com