to love

it's petals beauty can not hide

or protect

when the cold winds cut

and sheer

Still the memory is strong long after

winter reigns

This stately flower is a Poppy the state flower of California. I picked the state because I was born there, and the poppy is in the top 3 of my favorite flowers. Something about the fragile state of it's bloom one good gust and it is gone, never to return...well at least next year. It just seems longer than that I suppose.

This was illustrated in CS6, utilizing custom PS brushes, and Petal Swirl action set, Flexify II, and onOne Picture Perfect extension.