This week the Parks and Recreation Department started the annual seed planting for the spring wildflower season. The mix includes red corn poppy, corn flower and rocket larkspur and are being spread at several parks, traffic medians and trails. The plantings will continue for the next few weeks and cover more than 40 acres of park area, an increase of about 10 acres from last year’s planting.

There’s also a special native wildflower planting planned for Breckinridge Park off Moroney Drive as part of the City’s Operation Bloom Town program, in which neighborhoods and community groups can provide funding for additional plantings in specific areas.

The wildflower planting program began nearly 30 years ago. We went out yesterday to talk to one of the City workers involved with the program so he could tell us why they start this early and describe more on what you can expect to see.