The Best Places To See Spring Flowers

You can start seeing wildflowers there as early as February. The most famous ones are the orange poppies, which bloom from March through May. You can also hike 8 miles of trails around stunning spring flowers. In the Antelope Valley, you can also find tons of lupines and cream cups.

This year the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival falls from April 22 and May 1. It's one of the state's oldest traditions. Among the many events planned are the Winchester Cider Tastings and Orchard Tours, a 30-minute walking excursion. There, attendees are treated to a lesson on planting and growing fruit trees.

The "nation's greatest springtime celebration" is in the nation's capital. It's from March 20 through April 17 this year. The tradition started in 1912 when the mayor of Tokyo gave 3,000 cherry trees to the U.S. as a sign of friendship. Some of the favorite events during the event are the Blossom Kite Festival and the parade down Constitution Avenue, which also happens to be one of the largest displays in the country.

The lupines of Sugar Hill are known all over the country. Imagine yellow, red, white and all kinds of wildflowers amid the beautiful purple lupines while hearing birds and butterflies hover around with mountains ranges as the background. The state pays homage to this captivating wildflower with the Fields of Lupine Festival, now known as the Celebration of Lupine, every year.

The best time to see cobra lilies in the Atlanta Botanical Garden is February through April. Witnessing them in Georgia is even more amazing because they are native to southwestern Oregon and northern California. The plant's nickname is the California pitcher plant. It's so rare that it has been labeled as uncommon. You can also find amazing orchids in the garden. In fact, the garden has the largest collection of orchids in the country.

You know how everything is bigger in Texas? Flowers are no exception. The bluebonnets are more than 12 inches tall, so it's no wonder they are Texans' favorite. Drive around Hill Country to see the mighty flowers anywhere you turn. There is even a designated Bluebonnet Trail in April in Ennis.

The Longwood Gardens have more than 1,000 acres of gardens and meadows with over 10,000 different plants and flowers. Thousands of people come to see the spring blooms, including azaleas, hyacinth, irises and tulips every year.

Visiting Hawaii is awesome any day of the year, but the spring adds a little more color as its many exotic flowers blossom. The plumeria is the most famous one and can be seen literally anywhere. It has a lot of different colors too – white, pink, or even both together. They peak from April to September.

The campgrounds are in the North Carolina part of the Great Smoky Mountains, fenced by scenic mountain ranges, carpeted in spring wildflowers and vivid colors. The Smokefront Loop Trail, which is best to visit in March, is known for its violets and foam flowers. You should also look for umbrella leaves and rue anemones as you go higher.

Portland is known as the "City of Roses" but you can enjoy a sea of tulips just a half hour away during the annual Tulip Festival. You can find more than 40 acres covered with the beautiful spring bulbs at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm. The Rose Festival and its Grand Floral Parade are equally mesmerizing.

This is the world's largest indoor display of flowers. The Pennsylvania Convention Center is turned into a huge garden with wild exhibitions of more than 2,000 kinds of blossoms. You will find yourself surrounded by 10 acres of various bulbs of different colors, sizes, shapes and smells. This year the show is March 5-13.

If you want to see more than 7,500 orchid plans, representing more than 2,500 unique orchid taxa, in the same place, visit the Missouri Botanical Garden. You have until March 27. You'll also find roses and a tropical rainforest in the Climatron conservatory. The garden is also known for its amazing collections of magnolias, camellias and daylilies.  

The national park has more than 1,500 different kinds of flowers, the most in the country. That's why its nickname is the "Wildflower National Park." You can find orchids, violets, trilliums and crested dwarf irises all over if you go in the spring in April. The park offers guided walks and photography workshops so you can make the most of your trip.

The Alpine Loop Scenic Byway offers a wide range of spring wildflowers. Whether you drive along the roads or walk, be sure to look for the beautiful Colorado blue columbine. The Crested Butte has been known as the "Wildflower Capital" of the state. There, you will also find stunning yellow sunflowers, purple delphiniums, lupines and death camas, which are a kind of lily flower. The famous wildflower festival is in July.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden has been labeled one of New York City's greatest treasures. It has at least 20 different gardens, pavilions, exhibits, collections and even museums. The lilacs are especially popular in April and May when their scent fills up the air. In late April, the bluebells burst into flower and create a captivating woodland spectacle. The tree peonies and their marvelous aroma bloom in April and May as well.

You have never seen a cactus garden with native wildflowers more beautiful. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum even has a special butterfly garden with flower peaks in April and August. Despite a desert's dry and desolate reputation, various floral specimens are thriving. Lavender flowers coating ironwood trees are especially gorgeous.  

If you happen to be in Dallas between March and August, make sure you visit the Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden. It's famous for its butterfly magnolias and tulips, but their columbines and Kwanzan cherries are just as stunning. You can see it all there – more than 500,000 blooming bulbs.