California Wildflower Mix
The wildflowers of California are one of the wonders of the world. Unfortunately, they have steadily lost ground, replaced on thousands of acres by pavement and exotic plantings. By planting some wildflowers, you can help them survive--and help yourself to a spring treat.
Their clear colors and fragile charm are accessible to gardeners in many places and climates; since they are annuals, they don't have to survive the winter. For example, California native wildflowers are widely-grown and beloved staples of the spring border in England. Gardeners in zones 7-10 should sow in fall for the sturdiest plants and best show. Gardeners in colder zones can enjoy them too, by planting in very early spring (as can those of us who weren't ready to plant in fall.)
The important thing when planting wildflowers is site preparation. They need a weed-free start. Garden weeds are thugs, and wildflowers cannot compete. They are putting their effort into flowers, while weeds put it into expansion. Have a plan for removing weeds once the plants sprout as well. If you want to avoid the weed issue, plant in containers or in a 1" layer of fresh clean potting soil on top of a weed-free garden bed. This will prevent weed seeds in the soil from coming to the surface and sprouting. The area will need to be kept moist after planting, until the plants are 6 weeks old. Planting with the fall rains helps with this.