Enjoy wildflower season on local scenic roads

Every spring, as if to celebrate the season, local fields are awash in purple, yellow and orange blooms.  The season is brief because many of the roadside fields get mowed and the temperatures quickly heat up, but the flowers are beautiful to take in while they last.  
Whether hiking through wooded trails, paddling along scenic waterways, or simply taking a leisurely stroll through a local park, there's no shortage of opportunities to experience the beauty of our local wildflowers in bloom.


The most common local wildflowers are the purple phlox and the yellow coreopsis, Florida’s official wildflower which looks similar to a small daisy dotting rural landscapes.  You can also spot wild petunias, and wild lantana shrubs sprinkled among many fields and roadways.
One of the most iconic wildflowers to grace Central Florida in spring is the Florida azalea. With its delicate, pinkish-white blossoms, this native shrub creates a stunning contrast against the backdrop of wooded hammocks and stream banks.
Venturing into the local wetlands, kayakers  may encounter the vibrant blooms of the pickerelweed. Characterized by its spikes of purple flowers rising above glossy green foliage, this aquatic plant provides important habitat for pollinators and serves as a food source for various wildlife species.
One of the best ways to enjoy the blooms is by taking a leisurely drive down some of the area's scenic country roads.  Here’s a list of some of the stretches that often have some of the best blooming wildflowers, so check them out before the fields are mowed:  

• State Road 46 between Mount Dora and Mount Plymouth

• Dora Drive, just south of the end of Clayton Street and Beauclaire Road (Tangerine)

• State Road 44A between Estes Road and Lake May Preserve (Eustis)
• Thrill Hill Road north of State Road 44
• Sadler Road between U.S. 441 and Round Lake Road

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