California poppies explode with color on the Cahuilla Indian Reservation in Anza. Anza Valley Outlook/Diane Sieker photo
Colorful poppies are blooming in many local wildlands, roadsides, pastures and fields. The golden petals swaying gracefully in the springtime breezes are easy to spot, heralding springtime and mild weather.The California poppy, Eschscholzia californica, is a species of flowering plant in the family Papaveraceae, native to the western US and Mexico.These endearing, delicate plants grace us with flowers in vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow and even pink.The California poppy even became the official state flower of California in 1903. Besides looking lovely in the wild, it is also used as food or a garnish and cultivated in beautiful gardens.Patches of blooms can be seen throughout the Anza Valley this spring.
