Eaton Fire Survivor Plants Poppy Seeds in Altadena to Support Community Healing
Altadena Initiative Aims to Revive Community Spirit Through Poppy Planting
In a heartfelt effort to uplift Altadena following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, René Amy, a survivor of the disaster, is spearheading the Great Altadena Poppy Project. Alongside a dedicated group of volunteers, Amy is committed to planting poppies throughout the area as a symbol of hope and resilience.
“Naturally and historically, this area, Altadena, was known to have been covered with California poppies,” Amy explained. His initiative seeks to restore the local landscape by distributing an astounding quarter of a billion poppy seeds across fire-affected properties. To date, over 700 homeowners have signed up to allow their land to participate in this communal effort.
Amy emphasized the multifaceted inspiration behind the project, noting, “It’s a multi-prong effort. Every aspect of this, you can peel back another layer and go, ‘Oh yeah, there’s that aspect, as well.’ It’s mostly for folks like me who lost everything in the fire. My house burned to the ground.”
Volunteers like Kellie Evans and her son, Duncan Atticott, are actively contributing their time to the initiative. On a recent Thursday, they visited three dozen properties to assist with planting. Their participation holds personal significance, as they also spread seeds on their own home and that of Evans’ mother, both lost in the fire.
“It’s like getting therapy for free. I’m going to start crying,” an emotional Evans remarked.
Atticott added, “We won’t have to drive that far to see the poppy bloom this year.”
Amy has undertaken this project largely on his own, investing approximately $20,000 of his personal funds to bring the initiative to fruition. He expressed his deep-rooted affection for the community, stating, “There’s no place I would rather live than in Altadena. It’s the sense of community, the natural beauty, and the people are great.”
As sowings continue, the project promises not only to beautify Altadena but to rekindle community bonds in the aftermath of tragedy.
