California Poppy [Eschscholzia californica] petals

Another scan from my recent lunchtime walk in Ventura. The red of these poppies looks like it was brushed on to a normal orange California Poppy. They are a beautiful variant.

One of the interesting things about these poppies is the way they adapt to their local area. There can be a slightly different variant that lives only in an area as small as a single small valley. This variation actually makes them more hearty in a specific area, they are adapted to the exact conditions and climate.

In fact, it is actually possible to hurt the wild poppy population by plating seeds. Since most of the seeds you would get from the local garden supply shop are from stock that was originally exported to Europe. Being acclimatized for European gardens, releasing these plants in an area with native plants can actually weaken the resulting cross-pollinated next generation. Strange but true. Oh, and don't even think of collecting seeds in the wild, thats illegal. Oh well, some things are just meant to be enjoyed where they live!