Botany Photo of the Day

These are beautiful, will they grow on Cape Cod?

At last. Something I recognized right away!

Everywhere I've lived they were pretty abundant, and gosh, some people hate them. Call them a weed, of all things. I always thought they were lovely, pretty color, prettily shaped flowers.

But then, I always liked morning glories, too. Another weed.

Beauty is, indeed, in the eye of the beholder.

There's a garden in Central Wisconsin that has these growing as a border every year - what a pleasant surprise for a west coast guy! I don't know whether the individual plants are over-wintering but I'm sure they are at least reseeding each year.....

I remember the first time I saw these when I moved to CA. The field of poppies was so bright with color it hurt my eyes. Coming from Michigan I was shocked. I never knew such explosions of color happened naturally. To see a photo is one thing, but to see in person is something you never forget.

Well since Daniel started it, I'll share my shots from Hite Cove Canyon Trail from a little over a week ago:

All of the foothills surrounding this area were blanketed in gold poppies:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericinsf/3386916913/

Other areas were carpeted in Tidy Tips (Layia fremontii):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericinsf/3387722228/

The entire set of photos from the day:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericinsf/sets/72157615917622518/

Enjoy!

What a stunning look at something so common! The vivid yoke yellow petals set against the clear, cloudless blue sky is like a dream to behold!
It's almost like the photographer was lying in a field of these and from a daydream, would look up to see what we see!
Thank you!

These are SOOO useful as dry ground plants in the UK

Happy Birthday Daniel!!!

They are somewhat invasive as they reseed readily. But heck, if the weeds are more beautiful than the stuff I plant on purpose, then who am I to complain? Living here in the southwestern high desert climate of the U.S., I'm grateful for any good looking plant that doesn't require me to water it.

>>There's a garden in Central Wisconsin that has these growing as a border every year... I don't know whether the individual plants are over-wintering but I'm sure they are at least reseeding each year.....

Surely they wouldn't be overwintering as a perennial in Wisconsin. They are easy to grow from seed and will bloom reliably the first year. In many places they can reseed on their own.

These are really coming into bloom here in Central California. In my own garden, these reseed and come back each year. I avoid pulling them if possible.

Ah, Daniel, thank you for another exhilarating start to another wonderful day. I am always amused at spelling the species name, must be unique.

Eschscholzia californica - Z6 - RHS Index of Garden Plants, Griffiths

Eschscholzia californica - esh-sholts-ee-a - after Johann Friedrich Eschscholz [1793-1831], naturalist and physician, attached to a Russian exploration expedition to N.W. America. californica kal-i-forn-i-ka - of California. Dictionary of Plant Names, Coombes and Plant Names Simplified, Johnson and Smith.

Is it Daniels Birthday? (see Ruthie entry) If so Have a great day! And thanks for this!

Yep, and for my birthday, I treated myself to my favourite colours -- orange and blue.

happy birthday daniel
the poppies are one of my most favorite
flowers i even have the pretend kind

the news here in the states can be so
grim that this site is a blessing

happy birth day to every one
any excuse for a party says i

These lovely weeds grow abundantly in central Chile as well.

Back to Bob Wilson - yes, I'm sure you're correct but I've seen them in fresh bloom there in late November and early December, snow and freezing temps around!?!? I'm easily entertained......

come on everyone....you all want to ask how many candles on the cake this year...so old man are you up to it...?...(we all will sing in two part harmony)...i guess 35...happy birthday and thank you...!

Happy birthday, Daniel! Thanks for the lovely picture. California poppies and daffodils -- sure signs of spring. Beverly, welcome back. I've missed your very educational posts.

WOW! Another lovely creation…

Which is typical of this site!!!

So this is kind of like people hating the Wild Morning Glory?

Happy Birthday!

I hope the poppies keep going for awhile. I leave wintry Wyoming for California's Central Coast in two weeks. so thanks for the preview!

Lovely color! I remember seeing these growing up in California. They are always so beautiful.

Btw, I never knew morning glories were considered to be weeds. I love them!

And happy birthday Daniel. Thanks for putting posting the nice plant photos.

California poppies are very weedy in San Francisco - every out of the way crack in pavement or sidewalk sprouts one.

Morning Glories were considered noxious weeds by my grandmother's garden club circle in Birmingham Alabama in the 80s, but for a slightly unusual reason. When the "Just Say No" movement hit Birmingham in the mid 80s Morning Glory seeds were listed as being something drug addicts abused. Well once that came out everyone stopped growing them and I would get lectured constantly to never touch a morning glory.

Eric in SF: That's funny, when you said that about Morning Glories I think I vaguely remember several years ago (200?) not to touch them. Don't know if it was simply my overactive imagination or real, but my Mom probably heard that when she was little…

is it an urban myth re folks ingesting M.G. seeds as an hallucinogin?

Quin: Nope!

Google search: morning glory erowid

I don't want to cause Daniel any issues linking to Erowid directly.

I confirm Susan Straus' statement, they grow in abundance throughout the temperate zones in Chile.