Funeral Poppy?

Shirley Poppies are most commonly mixtures of pink and red.  This year the most unusual color that appeared was a single plant with purple-gray flowers and wrinkled petals. Somber, but striking nonetheless.    The red string is a marker so seed can be collected in a few weeks.

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La Reine VictoriaLa Reine Victoria

An old Bourbon rose propagated in France and named for Queen Victoria.  Original Bourbon roses derive from planned and spontaneous hybridization of roses on Reunion Island, known then as, Isle de Bourbon.

Photo from R. Gale

My Spring BarometerMy Spring Barometer

Daffodils (Narcissus sp.) are classics of spring but not so common outdoors in San Diego gardens because of our warmer climate.  Many years ago, I planted the bulb from a (supermarket) potted gift bouquet into my garden.  Each year if it flowers (like this year) I know it has been cooler and wetter than normal.  Most years only the leaves emerge without a flower.