A wet winter is leading to high hopes for the wildflower season. With the anticipation of colorful growth comes the annual launch of the Kern County Board of Trade’s Wildflower Hotline.

The hotline, a phone number and web site offering updates on wildflower growth and locations, officially began operation last week and will continue throughout the season. Wildflower information is available around-the-clock for callers to 661-322-WILD or Internet users can visit www.VisitKern.com.

New this year is the addition of blog, which will allow nature enthusiasts to post information on the best places to see wildflowers and to share their experiences. Kern is home to a number of major wildflower species including the California poppy, Indian paintbrush, desert calico and San Joaquin wooly thread. Coreopsis, lupine and other varieties are also common.

Wildflower enthusiasts are regular visitors to the county, contributing heavily to Kern’s $1.2 billion-per-year tourism industry.

“Visitors come from all over to see what Kern County has to offer,” noted Rick Davis, Executive Director of the Kern County Board of Trade.

Persons wishing to contribute their own sightings (including location and common name of the bloom) to the hotline may contact the Board of Trade during regular business hours at 661-868-KERN or 800-500-KERN. Sightings may also be submitted by e-mail at kerninfo@co.kern.ca.us.