Flower Friday : : Poppies

The sun appeared first thing this morning and has managed to stay out all day. It is as if the garden has been waiting for a little sunlight for it has burst forth with an abundance of flowers. It was hard to choose just one, but in the end, even though I've shown them before, I couldn't ignore the California poppies.

Unless they are growing in your own garden, it is illegal to  pick these poppies. Perhaps this rule came about because they are the designated state flower of California, but it is also true that their petals begin to wilt and fall off the moment they are picked. If left to their own devices they will, like tulips and crocuses, close up at night or even on dull days. 

It is thought that poppies were planted in the East Bay Hills so that their brilliant color could guide ships at sea through the golden gate. It makes a great story except for the fact that they only bloom for about a month, so a lighthouse or more permanent solution was built. When the Golden Gate Bridge was opened to the public in 1937 it was, and still is, painted International Orange which just happens to be the same color as the California poppy.  

The seed pods of the California poppy will burst open if touched and shoot hundreds of seeds for many feet. The ones that I photographed are growing right in the middle of the steps, having migrated from a small plant or two that we planted years ago in our raised beds, but we have elected to step over or go around them whilst they are blooming. One never knows where they will come up next year....perhaps at the base of the Cala lilies growing under the oak trees.*

California poppies are  a milder version of the opium poppy,  and have been used for relaxation and to treat tiredness, neurasthenia, nerve pain, various psychiatric conditions, blood vessel problems, sensitivity to weather changes and sedation. What I'm not sure about is how one goes about medicating oneself with poppies....by eating the seeds? chewing the petals or making tea out of them?, smoking them like opium? turn them over to Big Pharma who will make pills out of them, give them a ridiculous name and charge a fortune for them?

I think their sunny appearance on our garden slope is medicinal enough for me....

*extra