California poppies

Barry Garcia posted:
I was watching a show on PBS called "California's Gold" and they were
showing the prettiest and
most picturesque spots in california. One spot they went to was this
field
of california poppies in full bloom. The scenes were wondeful, it was
like
there was a lake of electric orange water, the flowers were so numerous.
I
think this place is in Lancaster, CA. I believe the place is also a
national park....

Yes, that remarkable "California's Gold" episode was shot near
Lancaster, CA, in the high desert northeast of Los Angeles. It's the
Antelope Valley Poppy Preserve. Only a small portion of the thousands of
acres of wildflowers there are in the public trust. Most of it is
private ranch land. It's also a spectacular lupine hot spot, too. Blooms
are best in April and May. It's a good wildflower vacation stopover on
the south  to the equally spectacular Anza Borego Desert, which is a
national park renowned for its "desert bloom."

At the moment, I don't have access to my Sunset Western Garden Book
(newest edition), but there's a mention of the unique Antelope Valley
poppy/lupine habitat in the climate zone section. I believe it's Zone 4
or 6. Maybe 3. What makes this an ideal place for poppies, lupines and a
few other other wildflowers is that few other plants can survive the
combination of searing summer heat and frequent sub-freezing winter
temperatures, not to mention some snow. I don't think the soil is too
fertile, either, but I'm not sure. There aren't any trees. Plus, all
year long, there's a drying wind. This is useful for gardeners to know,
because it tell us how tough Eschscholzia californica is. That it also
thrives in the more moderate coastal climate, which shows off its
adaptibility. Where most other more herbaceous plants can't make a go of
it — windswept beach cliffs, vacant lots, rock walls — poppies take
over.

Truly the California Golden Poppy is deserving of California State
Flower status. A great "weed"  an arid climate.

Barry Garcia added... I've heard that E.
californica and L. nanus are a great color combination.

I've gotten great results creating wildflower meadows with this
combination. I plant both seeds together a few weeks after the beginning
of the wet season, which here is late November or early December. As any
one knows who has grown wildflowers (especially lupines) from seed,
there are a few tricks to maximizing success with germination. If
anyone's interested, I can share some tips. It's easy to find seed
sources, but I'll mention our own national organic farm supply company
in nearby Grass Valley: Peaceful Valley Farm Supply, 110 Spring Hill
Drive, Grass Valley, CA, 95945. Their free catalog lists numerous native
wildflower seeds in bulk, some great wildflower seed combos and some
standard perennial mixes. The prices are great, too. I've created a
gorgeous 1,000 square foot l. nanus and E. californica meadow for about
$15 and a few hours of soil preparation (vital).

Wait ... is this supposed to be in the "lawn substitute" discussion ...?

Paul Harrar
Nevada City, CA
Sunset Zone 7, 2,700 ft.
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