Report From the FieldDecember, 2021ByMichael Powell Assisted by Marsha Neill, Bob Waidner and Patty Waidner

Do you, like me, define the beginning of each poppy season as when the first poppy seeds germinate? If so, you will be happy because I can report that the 2022 spring poppy season has already started. On Oc-tober twenty fifth, the Poppy Reserve had its first (but, unfortunately, only, as of mid November) rainstorm of this winter. The rain gauges the volunteer researchers have installed at various locations across the Reserve, recorded from 0.6 to 0.8 inches of rain from this storm. Although the ex-pected amount of poppy seed germination resulting from this level of rainfall is not enough for outstanding poppy displays on its own, it is a very good start. So far, the volunteer researchers have had time to in-ventory only two of the permanent moni-toring plots they maintain on the Reserve. Only three poppy plants were found in the monitoring plot closest to the Visitor Cen-ter; clearly, that is not a good start for a square meter plot. The inventory of the second plot was much more promising. In that plot, approximately thirty young pop-py plants were found growing which is a very impressive number. It is more germi-nation than I would have predicted for the amount of nearby measured rainfall; a very good sign. It is too early to yet predict what the spring season will bring but we are off to a good start. Hopefully, more storms will come!! If you are interested in learning more about the Reserve’s rainfall patterns and how changes in those patterns might be impacting the poppy displays, I suggest you read my latest extended article, click on the link below. As always, I end with my standard encouragement to visit the Reserve throughout the year. Later autumn and early winter are some of the best times to visit; warm (but not too hot) temperatures and mild (not hurricane force) winds. It is likely you won’t find too many plants blooming this year but the serenity of the Reserve itself makes it well worth a visit.
What does the Poppy Reserve look like right now? View the LIVE CAM.
Archive of Research Reports and News Flashes: