The California Poppy was named the State Flower in 1903. Prior to that time great fields of Poppies were found throughout the State. Today, while Poppies grow in many areas, the only large fields left are in the western Antelope Valley.
Antelope Valley, Southern California.
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve: annual poppy field. La Sabanilla de San Pasqual (The Altar-cloth of St. Pascal) is the name Spanish sailors gave the glorious fields of poppies which blanketed the California shores in the late 1700's. They were referring to the shepherd saint who tended his flock far from church and village and knelt in fields of wildflowers to commune with God. IT seems to be no conincidence that the area inwhich the most spectacular fields of poppies grew came to be know as Rancho San Pasqual which is now known as Pasadena, Altadina and Sierra Madre. Spanish sailors described these fields as rivers of gold which flowed some 25 miles toward the ocean.
California Poppy Reserve is nestled in the Antelope Buttes 15 miles west of Lancaster.
Poppies in the wind. Other names for the California Poppy have been Copa de Ora (Cup of Gold), Amapola and Dormidera (meaning the sleepy one, for the flowers close up at night and when it is cloudy or when the cold wind blows). The botanicall name Eschscholtzia was given to the plant by poet-naturalist Adelbert Von Chamisso of the Russian scientific expedition which visited California in 1816. The name honored his lifelong friend and surgeon to the ship, Dr. Johann Eschscholtz.
The California Poppy, Eschscholtzia californica, 4 to 6 petals, deep orange to yellow to white and variegated: 6" to 18" high. Annuals, perennial and biennial.
Blue Dicks, Dichelostemma capitatum, several tiny 6 petaled flowers grow in top of a one to two foot ready stem. Grows from a bulb.
Mountains of Antelope Valley colored with Poppies.
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