I saw Matilija poppies in bloom for the first time years ago at a trailhead in Rose Canyon here in San Diego and my jaw dropped. Miniature flowers that I have to keep my nose down to find and appreciate hold a special place in my heart, but the attention this giant poppy commanded was undeniable. I germinated some seeds given to me by a botanist friend, rushed their move into the ground and they didn’t survive. This nursery acquired plant is blooming for the first time today after two years of being planted and another will follow shortly. Its fragrance is reminiscent of roses.
Romneya coulteri
