Poppies

If you have been down to the reserve lately you will have been immediately struck by the beauty of the poppy display.
The California Poppy Eschscholzia californica has been our state flower since 1890 when the California State Floral Society nominated it alongside the mariposa lilly and the ginat poppy- the California Poppy was the clear favorite and won by a landslide.

Did you know that April 6th is no designated as California Poppy day!

California Poppies are a true symbol of our Golden State and have been around since long before Europeans ever reached California- the leaves of the poppy were used medicinally by Native Americans and the pollen was used cosmetically.

I hope you will all come down to the garden and enjoy the Poppies- for now you can make do with these photographs taken at the garden just this week.