Altadena Launches Massive Effort to Sow 100 Million California Poppy Seeds Across Eaton Fire Burn Scar

A sweeping volunteer effort to help restore the Eaton Fire burn scar is underway in Altadena.

Community groups, Scouts and local organizations have begun distributing and sowing 100 million California poppy seeds across damaged neighborhoods at no cost to residents.

The “Great Altadena Poppy Project,” spearheaded and funded by longtime community activist René Amy, aims to blanket the foothill community in spring blooms as a symbol of resilience after the fire destroyed hundreds of homes, including Amy’s. “Just imagine what Altadena will look like in the spring, when the poppies bloom,” Amy said.

Amy, known for large-scale community projects including the “Altadena Strong—We Will Rebuild!” banner unfurled while the fire was still burning, said the project is as much about morale as it is about beauty.

“Folks need hope these days—I know that I do,” he said. “California poppies exemplify beauty, grace and resilience. They will grow and flower in the toughest conditions.”

The Altadena Chamber of Commerce, Altadena Heritage, the Altadena Historical Society, the Altadena Rotary Club, Amigos de los Rios and Scouts from Altadena Troop 1 volunteers have begun packing seed packets, walking properties and sowing seeds for residents who signed up to have their land “poppified,” a playful term coined by Amy.

“What a great opportunity for Scouts to help others, to learn a bit of history and to learn more about nature,” said Troop 1 Scout leader Rose Cortez. “As today’s Scouts grow older, they’ll be able to experience firsthand the positive impact that the simple act of sowing California poppies can have on a community.”

Altadena Rotary Club President Brad Roeber said the project aligns with Rotary’s focus on community service. “Rotary is all about service above self, and it’s projects like René’s that remind us how a simple idea—along with some elbow grease and can-do attitude—can make a huge difference,” he said. “The blooms of some 100 million poppies will be an incredible symbol of Altadena’s resilience and resolve.”

California poppies once covered Altadena so densely that early 20th-century promotional materials referred to the region as the “Altar Cloth of San Pasqual.”

Veronica Jones, president of the Altadena Historical Society, said poppies were central to the area’s identity long before development. “There’s good reason why Altadena has streets named Poppyfields and Las Flores,” she said. “Our area was actually a tourist destination before it was fully developed.”

Val Zavala, president of Altadena Heritage, noted that Indigenous communities long lived among and used native poppies for medicinal purposes. “The beauty and resilience of the California poppy is the perfect metaphor for Altadena’s recovery,” she said.

The project also links with ongoing recovery work by Amigos de los Rios, which has been watering at-risk trees across Altadena. Managing Director Claire Robinson, who lost her home and nonprofit office in the fire, said adding poppies to the landscape offers a hopeful vision.

“As the winter leaves Altadena, it will be truly joyful to experience a California poppy superbloom across our community,” she said.

Amy, who also runs Altadena Maid Products, said the initiative builds on his annual wildflower seed giveaways, which were canceled this year due to the fire.

“This is sort of an extension of what was planned, only on steroids,” he said.

Looking ahead, Amy hopes the blanket of spring blooms will draw visitors and inspire residents.

“Folks don’t need to worry about Altadena being forgotten,” he said. “I expect that we will draw attention from around the globe when our community is once again awash with native wildflower blooms. What better way to say we love Altadena than with flowers?”