“Golden Poppies and Scarlet Monkeys,” the California State Library’s exhibit in the Library and Courts II Building, celebrates California wildflowers with a “bouquet” of original watercolors, prints, volumes of pressed flowers, rare books, fine press publications, and ephemera. The exhibition calls attention to the many ways in which the wondrous bounty of the state’s wildflowers have been portrayed since first observed and described by European explorers. Particular highlights include the original watercolor wildflower portraits of A.R. Valentien and Cornelia Cunningham, the incomparable botanical prints of Henry Evans, and a spectacular collection of ephemera (playing cards, postcards, fruit crate labels, and even a beer tray) devoted to the Golden Poppy.

CSL Document Repair Technician, Gerrilee Hafvenstein, stands before a "Golden Poppies and Scarlet Monkeys" case and exhibit poster, all curated by CSL Principal Librarian, Special Collections, Gary Kurutz.

The exhibit was curated by Gary Kurutz, Principal Librarian, Special Collections, and beautifully prepared and installed by Gerrilee Hafvenstein, Document Repair Technician. The Library and Courts II Building is located at 900 N Street, Sacramento. The exhibit hours are 9:30am to 4:00pm, Monday through Friday. The exhibit will run through September 6, 2005.