How long has the Golden Poppy been California’s state flower?
(FOX40.COM) — The California Poppy adorns many state, county and city seals in the Golden State, but how long has this brilliantly orange and yellow flower served as the state flower?
The California State Floral Society narrowed down the hundreds of flowers across the state to just three for the public to decide what would become the state flower.
California could soon have official state slug
From 1890 to 1903, votes were made for and against the Mariposa Lily, the California Poppy and the Matilija Poppy, according to the California State Library.
On March 2, 1903, the California Legislature officially selected the California Poppy as the state flower.
California State Parks says that the colors of the flower are emblematic of the Golden State and serve as a floral representation of the Gold Rush, the event that drew hundreds of thousands of people to California.
Golden Poppies are bright orange, grow in bushy clumps up to 2 feet tall and their petals can reach 2 inches long and three inches wide, according to the State of California Capitol Museum.
Species of rare beetle named after former California governor Jerry Brown
In 1973, Government Code 421 was established, making every April 6 the annual California Poppy Day.
One of the best places to see California’s state flower is at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve operated by California State Parks.
The park offers a live feed of the poppy-covered hills to monitor bloom conditions from home and pick the best time to visit.
The park is located near the community of Lancaster, about an hour and 30 minutes south of Bakersfield.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
