A California poppy memory

My graduate school research was on the population biology of an introduced species from Europe, Spergula arvensis.  It wasn't particularly weedy, but popped up along the west coast and had various interesting aspects because of its germination and seed structure. My primary study sites were in the San Francisco Bay Area, particularly in the Point Reyes Peninsula and Hunter’s Point, although they stretched all the way to B.C.

I sent my mother pressed California poppies along with Spergula arvensis in this frame, many years ago, probably during the time I was still doing research there.

 After she died, over 16 years ago, it's been in my study and now in my studio.

California poppy and Spergula arvensis