Cheshire Cat Photo Blog(...said the Cat: 'we're all mad here....')

The California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is beautiful and distinctive and native to grassy and open areas from sea level to 6500 feet (2000 m). The poppy can be found in California, Oregon, southern Washington, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, as well as Sonora and northwest Baja California in Mexico.

(Note on June 13, 2008: The higher-resolution version of this shot will be one of the two photos that I will hang in the Livermore Public Library in the “Our Best Shot” show for the entire month of July. The other will be the higher resolution photo that corresponds to this one of Livermore grapevines in October. Both 11×14 prints will be matted with acid-free Bainbridge Alphamat and acid-free backing, and both will be framed. Both prints will be numbered, signed on back of the print and on the mat, and will be for sale.)

(Note added June 16, 2008: I learned tonight at the Livermore Art Association June Meeting that a better-than-expected number of contributions by photographers means that each photographer may get to submit only ONE photo! If this is so, I will be hanging the California poppy photo in the Livermore Library during July.)

(Note added July 2, 2008: I got to hang BOTH the California Poppy 11×14 and the Livermore Vines, October 11×14 in the Livermore Library for the month of July. They are hanging with a number of wonderful photos, in the hall immediately on the right upon entering.) 

The poppy can grow to 5-60 cm tall and has alternately branching blue-green foliage. You can find the poppy growing on sand dunes, such as these at Sunset State Beach or on grassy hillsides and among rocks, such as these at about 1000 feet in elevation at Brushy Peak Regional Preserve.

The California poppy grows well in disturbed areas and can recolonize land after fires. The color of flowers can range from yellow to orange. The poppy is perennial in milder climates of its range, and grows best in full sun and sandy, well-drained, poor soil (which describes sand dunes pretty well!).

The California poppy is the State Flower of California, with its golden blooms viewed as appropriate for “The Golden State.” April 6 of each year is “California Poppy Day.”

Interestingly, the California poppy is ranked as an “invasive species” (Rank 3, “lesser threat” species) in Tennessee. (It may surprise some of you to know that California considers a fish species that some people travel hundreds of miles to catch in Canada, Minnesota, and Wisconsin – the Northern Pike – as an invasive species that the state poisons as a threat to trout populations. The Northern Pike is a little boney, but delicious, and sometimes intimidating when you bring a 48-inch one into your boat, with teeth gnashing [the fish’s, not yours]). Species introduced outside of their normal ranges can definitely cause problems, as most of us have come to learn.

-Bill at Cheshire Cat Photo™

You can view higher-resolution photos (*generally* 7-30 megabytes, compressed) at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™, where you can also order prints and gifts decorated with the photos of your choice from the gallery. Apparel and other gifts decorated with some of our most popular photos can be ordered from the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®.