Imagine Altadena in the spring. That’s what René Amy did when he created and funded the Great Altadena Poppy Project.

The image persisted even as the 65-year-old community activist spent the past 10 months doing all he can to recover, rebuild and return to his hometown: What would the Altadena burn scar look like if 100,000,000 California Poppy seeds were sown across the fire-ravaged community, all for free?

“Folks need hope these days and I know that I do. It’s been a truly-terrible grind for everyone, and spirits are low,” Amy said. “California poppies exemplify beauty, grace and resilience. They’re self-sufficient, drought tolerant, and will grow and flower in the toughest conditions. Altadenans know what tough is and this project is intended to help renew and encourage those who have been through so much.”

Amy gathered an impressive collection of local groups, such as the Altadena Chamber of Commerce, Altadena Historical Society, Altadena Heritage, Altadena Rotary Club, and the environmental nonprofit Amigos de los Rios to join in the mission.

Amy soft-launched the $10,000 “seed-y” assignment at the ReGreen Altadena community TreeFest at Odyssey Charter School on Nov. 8, aided by Scouts from Altadena Troop 1. The project was officially launched at Jackalope Pasadena art fair on Saturday, Nov. 22.

Scout leader Rose Cortez said the her charges learned a bit of history (such as how vast fields of poppies once covered the town) and helped pack poppy packets for distribution as well as sowed seeds on properties whose owners have signed up to be “poppified.”

“Long before the Woodbury brothers bought the land that became Altadena, California poppies bloomed like a golden carpet across our area – to such an extent that it was commonly referred to as ‘the Altar Cloth of San Pasqual’ after the Spanish friar known to have kneeled in prayer in fields of wildflowers,” said Veronica Jones, president of the Altadena Historical Society. “There’s good reason why Altadena has streets named Poppyfields and Las Flores – our area was actually a tourist destination before it was fully developed.”

Poppyfields Drive, Amy notes, was seeded with its namesake flowers on Nov. 21.

Val Zavala, president of Altadena Heritage, said Indigenous people had long lived among poppies and other wildflowers, using them in herbal medicines.

“The beauty and resilience of the California poppy is the perfect metaphor for Altadena’s recovery, and Altadena Heritage is proud to be a part of it,” Zavala said.

Brad Roeber, president of the Altadena Rotary Club, said the project can remind people that “a simple idea – along with some elbow grease and can-do attitude – can make a huge difference for those who’ve experienced a disaster as we did here in Altadena. Rotary works to create hope in the world, and the blooms of some 100,000,000 poppies across our community will be an incredible symbol of Altadena’s resilience and resolve.”

Altadena Rotary has contributed towards the purchase of seeds by Amy, who is also a longtime member of the club.

Amy was behind the large “Altadena Strong: We Will Rebuild!” banner that he put up at the Altadena Grocery Outlet days after the fire in January, and he has worked with the Rotary Club as well as Amigos de los Rios on helping residents and businesses survive post-fire. Since summer, he has led the charge, through Amigos de los Rios, to water Altadena trees that might not otherwise have survived the scorching season.

Amy said those who have signed up for free tree-watering services from Amigos de los Rios can also ask that their properties be “poppified” at no cost.

“Amigos has been watering at-risk trees across Altadena for months with René leading field operations, so it’s a natural extension of that project to offer our participating property owners some ‘proper poppification,” said Claire Robinson, managing director of the environmental stewardship nonprofit that lost its Altadena office in the Eaton fire. Robinson also lost her home in the blaze.

A one-man army for Altadena, Amy also volunteers with the international disaster relief charity Shelterbox, among many local ties. These days, he is slowly returning to running his micro business Altadena Maid Products, dedicated to helping people understand how easy, fun, and important growing California native wildflowers can be to people, pollinators, and the planet.

Before the fire gutted his home, and the tools and seeds stocked in it, Amy played host to an annual giveaway of 1 million native wildflower seeds. The Great Poppy Project is an extension of that, he said, “only on steroids.”

Judy Mathews, the president of the Altadena Chamber of Commerce said its micro businesses like Amy’s that help make Altadena special.

“The California poppy embodies the area’s natural heritage and the community’s commitment to preserving its scenic beauty,” Mathews said. “The blooming of the poppies each year is a cherished event that fosters community spirit and highlights the unique charm of Altadena.”

Seeing a superbloom of poppies come spring should draw attention to a town devastated by fire.

“What better way to say that we love Altadena than with flowers?” Amy said.

Owners of properties impacted by the Eaton fire can register online by filling out and submitting the form found at https://forms.gle/LWYrHUYc7qVrL5Ap6