The Last Brave Poppy

I have been observing this last brave little Californian Poppy over recent times. These poppies, aka Eschscholzia Californica, grow prolifically along the Taylor River bed and bank during late spring and over the summer. They make a glorious splash of colour, a brilliant carpet of bright orange growing so thickly one can hardly see the feathery green foliage.
Other names for these bright cheerful flowers are "Cup of Gold" and "Four O'Clockers". Four O'Clockers are so called because they curl up their petals tightly and put themselves to sleep in the late afternoon. They do not "wake up" until well after the sun has risen in the mornings. The poppy petals also stay tightly furled during adverse weather.
There are none to be seen over winter except for this brave little poppy. I have watched it weather heavy rain and some frost over the last couple of weeks and I have become quite attached to it. I just had to photograph the brave little plant for posterity . I will be sad when it finally gives up its spirit and dies.
But next spring.......