Drama Queen, photo by Harold Davis. View this photograph larger.

This is a Papaver somniferum—yes, the poppy from which opium is made–being beautiful in my garden. This particular variety of Papavaer somniferum is called “Drama Queen” by the horticulturist nursery that grows them, and I can see why. I had photographed this bud a few days earlier, and was excited to watch the flower emerge:

It’s taken me a while to get to this photo, and I have quite a backlog, because Julian and I have been away in the Sierras in Kings Canyon, Sequoia, Yosemite. Stand by for photos!