小瓜呆 murielee84

The CA state flower is California poppy, which is also called Eschscholzia californica. Antelope Valley Californian Poppy Reserve is only an hour and a half away, so I really wanted to check it out during its peak season: March-May.

聽說加州州花是 poppy ，知道它的保留區距我住的地方只要一個半小時，便想趁著花季時 (March – May)去瞧瞧。

* Antelope Valley Californian Poppy Reserve 保留區

跟 Nicole 去時，我們在想，怎麼會找可以作毒品的花當州花？Nicole 還想說可不可以帶幾朵回來提煉，後來想想，如果真能製毒，大概都被弄走了，那輪得到我們？

Its growth is best in full sun, well-drained, poor soil, and sandy.

其實 California poppy 中文是花菱草，又名金英花，學名 Eschscholtzia， 是罂粟科花菱草属，在日照充足、排水好、沙質、貧瘠地上長的最好。

The flowers have 4 petals, each petal 2-6 cm long and broad. It grows from sea level to 2,000m (6,500 feet) altitude in CA, extending north to Washington State, east to New Mexico State, and south to Mexico.

花菱草，花瓣4枚以致花冠近似菱形。生長高度從海平面到 2000 公尺，原產於美國加州，向北延伸到華盛頓州，向東可到新墨西哥州，向南到墨西哥，在歐亞澳等地均有栽培。

* It can grow 20~60 cm (2ft) tall.

植株高度 20~60 公分不等。花朵單隻，頂生，花徑 5~7 公分。

Their color ranges from yellow to orange. Horticulturalists have produced numerous cultivars with various other colors (such as pink, peach, and red).

野生的花色多為橙黃色系，園藝家栽培變種的花色則較多，除了橙黃色系，也有紅、粉、桃之紅色系等。

It was selected as the state flower by the California State Floral Society in December 1890, defeating the Mariposa lily and the Matilija poppy, but the state legislature did not make it official until 1903. Its golden blooms could symbolize “Golden State.” April 6 of each year is "California Poppy Day."

1890 年時金英花打敗 Mariposa lily 與 Matilija poppy，被 California State Floral Society 選為州花，不過要到 1903 年才正式成為州花；因為加州被稱為 Golden State，金英花的金黃色正好相互呼應，每年4月6日定為 California Poppy Day。

California poppy leaves were used medicinally by Native Americans, and the pollen was used cosmetically. The seeds are also used in cooking. Smoking extract from the California poppy acts as a mild sedative - though the effect is far milder than that of opium.

聽說北美原住民拿金英花的葉子作藥，也用它的花粉來作化妝品，種子也可煮食。

吸入金英花的萃取物的確有鎮靜止痛功能，不過比起我們常說的鴉片，可差得遠了！

Antelope Valley Californian Poppy Reserve covers almost 1800 acre (7 km²)

保留區將近有1800 英畝 (7平方公里) 。

There are 7 miles of trails in Antelope Valley Californian Poppy Reserve; mostly moderate. It is usually very windy in spring.

內有7 英哩的健行步道，不會很難爬，看到很多阿公阿媽來玩，也有看到推娃娃車的。

Antelope Valley Californian Poppy Reserve is considered high altitude desert. There are many other plants and animals. This was blooming cactus in front of the Interpretive Center, which only opens during blossom season - although the park is open year round.

保留區算是高山沙漠，區內不止有金英花，還有許多其他動植物；這是在遊客中心前開的仙人掌花。

It is also pictured in welcome signs while entering California.

從別州進入加州時，歡迎的牌子上就有金英花，下次有機會看到要拍下來。

那我到底怕什麼呢？

 
I checked out Reserve website before my visit; it recommended visitors to stay on trial because rattlesnakes were out.  When we got there, a staff member was actually introducing a snake on her body . . .

上保留區網站查詢時，它建議遊客要走在已開拓的步道上，不要隨便亂走到花田裡，到處都可能有響尾蛇；在遊客中心外，還有工作人員拿了一隻蛇在介紹。

I am really a good girl and stayed on trial. However, I still encountered 2. While walking on the trail, I noticed that after I stepped out my right foot, a tiny snake withheld – probably because it heard my foot stepping. I didn’t have much time to response – stepped out my left foot and I continued to walk, didn’t dare to look back and observe it.

我很乖的，結果還是讓我看到兩條：第一次是走在步道上，我一路走，突然發現我踏出右腳，它大概聽到腳步聲，便把頭縮回去一點點，一隻細細的，大約我姆指粗，我左腳也輕輕地踏出，頭也不回，很鎮靜得繼續走。

During this hour of hiking, we saw giant ants and several types of lizards, none of which I could identify, of course. We were getting into car and ready to leave, and I thought I was safe. Well, while I drove out towards the Reserve entrance, I saw a 2nd snake crossing the road. I couldn’t even stop my car on time. I looked back via the mirror and noticed that it continued to cross the road. I was so relived that this little thing was not hurt.

這一路健行約一小時，有碰到很大隻的螞蟻與好幾種不同的蜥蜴 (當然沒一隻叫得出名字) ，後來要開車離去，想說應該安全了，結果在開出保留區的柏油路上，看到第二隻蛇在過馬路，我根本來不及煞車，一開過從後照鏡看，那一條細細淺黃的小東西繼續過馬路，嚇死我了，還好它沒事。

Nicole wanted to see snakes but she saw none. I was so scared of snakes and I met 2. She said I was lucky – well, what do you think?

Nicole 很想看看蛇，偏偏一條也沒見著，我怕得不得了，偏偏看到了兩隻，她直說我 lucky， 唉，這怎麼說呢！？