These flowers are stupendous. I encountered them a week ago when Zing! and I were walking through Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park, and I just had to go back to see them again. Sunday, when I finally got to draw them, people gathered around — not to see my work, but to see the flowers. Everybody started talking. I learned they are called Matilija poppy and are named after an Indian chief. They come from southern California. They shed their flowers and turn into sticks after summertime. And their nickname is the fried egg poppy.
… and when I checked the web, I learned Matilija poppy is native to chaparral and coastal sage scrub habitats, primarily from Santa Barbara County, and that it was a candidate for state flower, but was beat out by the California poppy. Below my drawing is a photo I took yesterday.
Love,
k
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