In 2017-2018 i took a (rather dramatic) gap year from Ojai and resided in Ashland, Oregon. There was a small enclosed garden space above the house, and i immediately to setting up a proper kitchen garden. Numerous delightful volunteers showed up throughout the cultivation process including these poppy flowers that i snapped a few photos of and tucked away from saved seed. I identified it as "Salmon" at the time. Eight years later, i was digging into our planting stock for grow outs at Honor Farm/Farmer and the Cook, and came across the seed. Poppy seeds show remarkably long viability (if stored correctly), so i had no doubt they would germinate, but i still surprised by their vigor. This is definitely a Papaver somniferum strain, although less "salmon" than i thought, unless backlit correctly. Reminiscint of a cross between Cherry Glow and Danish Flag. The foliage is more jagged than the other somniferum strains we've grown. The pods produce black seeds. I'm calling it Hillcrest 17. Captain's prerogative 😝…
-quin
