Wildflowers break loose along Del Dios Highway

Blooming "fire followers" in the form of California golden poppies -- the state flower -- and purple or blue phacelias have turned Del Dios Highway west of Lake Hodges Dam into a tourist attraction.

The phenomenon of wildflowers taking over the landscape burnt out in the Witch Creek Fire began in late February. The bloom, best seen in early afternoon, is expected to continue through April,

Beautiful colors, but the social phenomenon attendant to this event appears equally striking. Crowds of onlookers have begun descending on these hills, coming from near and far, very far.

A lot of the photo-taking enthusiasts have taken to parking in a small dirt lot near the dam. The lot had been posted with no parking signs for years. It was rare to see even one car parked there and sheriff's deputies ticketed cars they saw.

But the Witch Creek Fire that destroyed the habitat also vaporized the no parking signs. So, as some started to park to view, their numbers multiplied.