Matilija Poppies, more

Matilija, 2, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

More Matilija poppies, oops on the yellow paint!

Matilija poppies

Matilija poppies, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

The other day I was on my way home from my Yoga class in Laguna Beach when I saw these stunning white flowers with huge yellow centers blowing in the breeze along the road. I thought they were poppies but I hadn't seen them before....especially this size....about 6" across! I just had to drive home, get my garden clippers and return to "prune" these roadside "weeds". The are called Matilija poppies. There are 6 petals that are so sheer that you can see through them. They kind of look like a big fried egg from the front. I hope I can get a seed pod to open on its own so I can give it a try but if not I have located a nursery where they have cutting plants. Footnote: after poaching these flowers I returned home to find my hands were covered with black soot. Then when I placed the flowers in a vase with water the water turned black resulting in ugly sediment. Beautiful flowers; not such beautiful air along the road side.