MARICOPA, Calif. -- They bloom in swaths of purple, orange and yellow, a canvas of colors that turns what's dried grasslands for most of the year into a large expanse of wildflowers, and they're on early display at the Wind Wolves Preserve.

Last year, the preserve received just five inches of rain, but this year, it's already received more than 12, according to Dan York of the Wildlands Conservancy, which maintains the non-profit preserve. As a result, the wildflowers have emerged a few weeks early this year, to the benefit of the many educational groups and visitors to the preserve.

Wildflower watching is a growing tourist attraction in Kern, and the early season is sure to bring additional visitors, Rick Davis, of the Kern County Board of Trade said.

The land where the preserve is now in place was originally slated for residential development in the late 1980's, but after the developer went bankrupt, the Wildlands Conservancy acquired the land in 1996, and since then, more than 120,000 school children have learned about the wonders of nature at Wind Wolves, York said.

Although the wildflowers are a big attraction, there are dozens of animal species who also call the preserve home, and are all available for public viewing for free.

The preserve is located west of the intersection of Highway 166 and Old River Road. For more information on the Wind Wolves preserve, visit www.wildlandsconservancy.org.

To find prime locations to view wildflowers, call 322-WILD or log on to visitkern.com.