I got out to the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve a little late this year to see any blue dicks, but the cream cups and locoweed pods were still in abundance, not to mention the California poppies.
When I was a kid, I was kind of afraid of California poppies. I was told that because they were the state flower, it was illegal to pick them; I was frequently worried that a poppy might die near me and I would get blamed for killing it or something, and I’d be sent to prison forever. Now that I’m older, I know a lot more about poppies,* so I was glad I went out to see them.
ETIQUETTE: The gift of red poppies indicates that the recipient inspires exotic passion in the giver. White poppies, intimacy. California poppies, dreams.
SUPERSTITION: Do not place poppies near your eyes or ears. If you put one near your ear, you’ll get an earache; if you hold one up to your eye, you will go blind. If you pick a red poppy and a petal falls off, make sure it doesn’t hit your hand. If it does, you will soon be struck by lightning.
* I know that sounds like code for “heh, heh; I do opiates” or something, but it’s not. I just know a lot more about poppies now that I’m not a kid.
