Poppies. Poppies!

There are few out there that wouldn’t recognize the beautiful orange shade of the California poppy. This flower is native to the western states such California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Arizona. However it can also be found in up in Canada, throughout Europe and Australia, and all the way down into South America.

The scientific name of a California poppy is Eschscholzia californica and it can most often be found in open spaces such as grasslands, desert areas, or even growing on the side of the road in bloom between the period of February to September.

The California poppy was declared the state flower of California on March 2, 1903 and April 6 of every year is celebrated as California Poppy Day.

In February students were given the chance to learn a bit more about the California’s state flower. We talked about their life cycle and growth as well as how to recognize them, even if they aren’t their usual orange! (Ivory, yellow and red, oh my!) Each student also go the opportunity to sprinkle a handful of poppy seeds throughout the garden to add their own little touch to the growth and development of our planter beds.