Why is it a daft question, Geoffo, if you don't know then you don't know?
The californian poppy is an annual therefore it will only grow for the one year. However, it might have seeded itself around in your garden and some new poppies will grow this year.

Yes, almost definately will have self-sown, unless you pulled them up before they set seed. They are lovely and usually you'll always have them once you've sown them, but if you sowed mixed colours, you might find that they slowely revert back to the natural orange, which is still lovely!

Believe me, you see some really daft questions come up on here - and this one isn't one of them!!

Thank you both for being so kind. I have not touched the ground at all since last summer, and if you say they could have 'self-seeded', I presume that means I won't have to plant some more. The ground is bare at the moment with no sign of life. When should there be signs of growth do you think? Other than remove last year's dead growth, is there anything else I should do to the soil eg forking it over - or could that disturb any new growth underneath?

Thanks again,
Geoff

Depending on how warm the weather and soil get I would think you might see seedlings in May, some time. Assuming that you sowed the original seed last year you will remember what the little seedlings look like, won't you (;-o) so you could do some weeding in the area. I would not fork it over now as this could disturb the seedlings, as you say.

Thanks Bulbaholic, I'll do as you say. You might have guessed I'm keen whilst not very knowledgeable

or to put a different view...
fork it lightly and as the seed is turned over the light helps it to germinate. this is true for the flanders poppy. after the carnage of artillery the seeds grew and bloomed on the battle fileds.

If there anything like mine they will grow forever, even where you dont want them!!

My little seedlings are coming through now - they're a greeny-grey colour, so they're quite distinctive.

I'm just starting to see a few California poppy seedlings emerge too.

In the colder areas of Arizona, they are a short-lived perennial. Here in the low desert, they always die in the summer. Up north, they go dormant in late summer, but sprout again the next spring, unless they were drowned by snowmelt!

the only difficult question is one you dont know the answer to so not daft as bulbaholic sais mate .

Thanks all - interesting replies, especially as many are starting to see their seedlings emerge now. Nothing from mine yet; I must keep an eye out

dont watch to hard geoffo what will be will be . its like watching a clock lol .

They will come up when the conditions are right, temperature and moisture levels. Have patience and as Noseypotter says don't watch out for them too closely. It will be a lovely surprice when they do come up. Promise!!