Posted on 04/12/2003 4:14:13 PM PDT by BenLurkin
LANCASTER - The California Poppy is said to have inspired the nickname "La Tierra del Fuego," or "Land of Fire," by early visitors to the state inspired, perchance, by blazing hills of orange and yellow.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the poppy's designation as the state flower and favorable weather this winter and spring has brought forth bountiful blooms in the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, a marked improvement over last year's paucity of poppies.
To honor the poppy's centennial and the city of Lancaster, which hosts an annual springtime poppy festival, 36th District Assemblywoman Sharon Runner presented city officials Friday with a resolution recognizing the occasion.
"Being a native of the Antelope Valley and seeing those poppies every year, I believe in the last 20 years this is the best they've ever been," Runner said. "What a great year to celebrate the 100th birthday of the poppy being named the state flower."
Runner also noted that Lancaster is the only place in the state to host a poppy festival. The 13th annual California Poppy Festival is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27 at Lancaster City Park. Admission is $6 for ages 13 to 61, and $3 for children, ages 6 to 2, and for seniors, 62 years and older. Children 5 and under are free.
"This is exciting for us," Vice Mayor Henry Hearns said. "This year, nobody would want to miss this one."
The two-day outdoor poppy festival will include a rainforest with exotic animals, insects and plant life one would see in a rainforest, sponsored by The Boeing Co., one of nine major event sponsors. Boeing also will make tickets available to local schools so schoolchildren can come to the festival.
Other major sponsors include the Antelope Valley Press, Adelphia Communications and Clear Channel Radio, which is sponsoring a special "Toast of the Town" stage featuring local community performers. RE/MAX real estate will assist with a fund-raiser geared toward eliminating childhood diseases.
Aero Industries, High Desert Medical Group, Lancaster Honda and Waste Management of the Antelope Valley also are sponsors.
The festival will include a Celtic Market Square with sheep-herding dog demonstrations, kilted bagpipers and fencing tournaments. There also will be about 200 juried arts and crafts and fine arts vendors; a 25-foot-long Mississippi River Boat puppet show; wildflower artwork; aviation and aerospace exhibits; a flower and farmers market; an antique and new car show; historical museum displays; and 30 food and beverage vendors.
Carnival games will be available at an additional cost.
Four stages will offer a variety of musical offerings for almost any palette, including smooth jazz, rock, Celtic, folk, pop, Hispanic and country music. This year's headline acts are Firefall, Spyro Gyro, Poncho Sanchez, Herbie Kae and the Prodigals.
"A special thanks to Assemblywoman Runner who has got the city of Lancaster special recognition in the state," said Bob Greene, Lancaster's assistant director of Parks, Recreation and Arts Department.
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Not these poppies, but tossing a bagel out your bedroom window might help.
What happened to George Runner (hubby, I assume)...termed out? Good conservative that continually PO'd the left.
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