California Poppy

One of the first pictures taken with our new digital camera in 2003, this was shot in the front yard, and is part of a series of 10 photos we used for a set of native plant notecards.

The description on the card reads a follows.

Eschscholzia californica

California's State Flower is highly variable throughout its vast range (over 90 taxa described) and many new species may yet be indentified. Historically the California Poppy was not among the more abundant of wildflowers in Big Bear Valley and those found growing in the wild today are very likely hybrids of commercially grown varieties. California Poppies range in color from pale yellow to deep orange and may be the most universally recognized wildflower in the Southwest. This photo, taken from beneath a flower, was backlit by the sun to emphasize the simple elegance that is Eschscholzia californica. Readily available and easy to grow drought resistant California Poppies are always a favorite in wildflower gardens. They seem to do especially well on south facing slopes with occasional light watering.