"The hills are alive with the sound of music." Rodgers and Hammerstein

The story of the California poppy’s designation as the state flower in 1903 reveals an arduous struggle with setbacks along the way.

The idea for selecting a state flower was born in 1884 when self-taught and renowned botanists John and Sarah Lemmon attended an exposition in New Orleans in 1884.

As explorers of nature, this couple conducted wilderness surveys, discovered and recorded many specimens unknown to science. When working at the California forestry service, Sarah drew beautiful illustrations of various flora they  encountered and gave botanical talks replete with fascinating lore.

While lecturing on forestry conservation in Chicago, Sarah’s talk inspired discussions about choosing a state and national wildflower. In 1890, the California State Floral Society voted to designate a state flower and the golden poppy won the vote. Sarah, was given the task of persuading the California Legislature to declare a state flower. This proved to be a more difficult task than anticipated but Sarah was a strong advocate and persevered.

In 1895, Sarah Lemmon succeeded in getting a poppy bill introduced on the floor of the state Senate, and it passed almost unanimously.  However, Governor Henry Cage did not believe that “the adoption of a state flower is a proper subject for legislation.”  He intentionally left the bill unsigned on his desk until it expired and then again when a similar bill was introduced in 1899.  

Next, he vetoed a bill passed by the Legislature in 1902. The Assembly made an impassioned plea garnering support to approve the bill over the governor’s veto but sadly the state Senate let the bill die without a vote.  

Finally, the bill passed in 1903, and prior to announcing victory,  two legislators ordered enough poppies to present one to each senator. Unfortunately,  the flowers did not arrive due to a train wreck the night before. Instead they displayed a bunch of poppies when they announced that Gov. Pardee had signed the bill as wild cheers broke out as the ‘Golden Poppy’ was adopted as the State Flower of California.

Sarah Lemmon's efforts were broadly recognized on that memorable day as she celebrated with them . For it was Sarah who tirelessly, in the face of gubernatorial opposition, toured the state, mailed out flyers and corresponded with legislators.

In the words of author Richard Schwartz, “The poppy has struggled to maintain its presence, and its range is severely limited in comparison to its original, naturally ordained range and density.”  

“Every poppy delivers it message of beauty and sustains its place in this world. The next time you pass a poppy, look long into its petaled palace, for in the folds of that flower lies a long, hard, and beautiful history of survival and perfect grace.”

How The “Poppies” Came

 The angels saw one region where

More sunshine lingered than its

share;

And came, with each a heaven-white

 Cup,

To dip the yellow surplus up.

No sooner brimmed with it—behold, 

The cups themselves were turned to

Gold!

And were the lie, upturning still

Their gold for golden skies to fill.

                                                                 By~Sadie B. Metcalfe, 1895

 Liz Sorensen Wessel
Photo of CA poppies, 2/25/2019 by ~liz