Special Web Offer - Get 50% OFF!
Grab Your Deal Now
Ian Huntington
Matilija poppy is commonly planted around my hometown of Ojai, California, where it is native. Its natural range is from Ventura County in Southern California to below the border with Mexico. I find it growing in dry, sandy river beds around my house in La Misiôn de San Migiel, Baja Norte. This poppy prefers sandy or fast-draining soil and little water or attention. It is the largest California native flower. According to native Chumash legacy, it originated from Amatil, the daughter of a Chumash chief, Chief Matilija. Young Amatil was deeply in love with a handsome warrior, Cocopah. Cocopah was killed in battle and Amatil was so grief-stricken that she died while morning over his fallen body. From where their dead bodies had fallen sprung a large white flower to symbolize the purity of Amatil’s love for Cocopah. Don’t ask me why the flower was chauvinisticly named after Amatil’s father, instead of given her name. I’m just recounting the story. 😉
Comments
Beautiful and with a great story... it looks more like an anemone or cistus... but also a bit like fried eggs- sunny site up Enjoy your weekend as well 🥰
Go PremiumGo PremiumIndeed, it does look very similar to an anemone but, of course, it is not.
Go PremiumGo PremiumMaureen, that’s the conclusion I came to as well. 😉 Then, it occurred to me that behind every remembered man, there is a woman, or in this case, a daughter.
Go PremiumGo PremiumIan, flowers look exquisite, your information tells a great story. Thanks for sharing it ❤️❤️❤️
Go PremiumGo PremiumOhh, this flower is AMAZING and so LOVELY, dear friend IAN. The story too. 👌 ..🍃🗯️🟡🗯️🍃🗯️🟡🗯️🍃..
Go PremiumGo PremiumWow, a great entertaining story , a romantic kinda like Romeo n Juliet but with a symbolic outcome like some of d Chinese folklore . Love it ❤️. From d botany/ horti angle , this poppy variation cd...
Go PremiumGo PremiumClare, that is an interesting question. It is my experience that this and other native poppies do not hold up well in high winds. They are pollinated by insects, particularly native bees and the Eur...
Go PremiumGo Premium