This is the first in our series of “Pictures from the People,” where we’ll be publishing photos in print, online and on our social media channels that are sent to us from our readers (with credit, of course). We’d like to do this weekly, but we need your help to get started.
Every spring, residents in the Golden State are treated to a vibrant sight to behold—California poppies are in full bloom across the state. From flowing meadows and mountainsides to shrubs in yards and sprouting flowers through cracks in the sidewalk, it’s hard to miss the bright orange blooms gracing the state.
Long Beach residents don’t have to travel far to enjoy California’s emblem. The Signal Tribune’s Photo Editor Richard H. Grant took a short trip to Belmont Heights to catch some poppies in full bloom along the Red Car Greenbelt, and it gave us an idea.
Wild California poppies in full bloom along the Red Car Greenbelt in the Belmont Heights neighborhood of Long Beach on April 20, 2023. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune) 
Wild California poppies in full bloom along the Red Car Greenbelt in the Belmont Heights neighborhood of Long Beach on April 20, 2023. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune) 
Wild California poppies in full bloom along the Red Car Greenbelt in the Belmont Heights neighborhood of Long Beach on April 20, 2023. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
Whether you’re walking along the sidewalk or driving an hour out for more striking images, we want to see your best California poppies photos. Hopefully you don’t have to travel to see the poppies and can catch a few in your own backyard or at a local park.
We want to see the beauty in Long Beach and Signal Hill through the eyes of our readers. Some weeks we’ll offer a theme to you: California poppies, wildlife in the city, or rare bits of hail or rain that hits SoCal. Mostly, we just want to see what you think best represents your city.
To enter a photo in our “Pictures from the People” series, send your submissions, preferably in JPEG format, to newspaper@signaltribune.com or to our Instagram account @SignalTribune. Please include your full name if you want to be credited. We also encourage captions giving context to your photo.