Valeria Dukelow began saving her mother’s red poppy seeds in Pittsburgh in the 1960s; more than 50 years later, gardeners were still growing the same family flowers

Valeria Dukelow cultivated the Chima Family Heirloom poppy, a warm red flower, in Pittsburgh. The plant has been passed down through generations, originating from seeds sent by Sarah Russ Chima's mother in Romania. Gardening organizations, like Seed Savers Exchange, maintain biodiversity by preserving heirloom seeds. The article emphasizes the importance of actively growing diverse crops for genetic diversity.