Sunday, April 22, 2012

My Little Field of Poppies

Every spring I await the bright red blooms of the somniferum poppies in my garden.  Usually they start blooming in early to mid April.  This year they started on March 26.   Here are a few pictures of the poppies at peak bloom over the last couple weeks.


The poppies mingle with the salvias, larkspur, California poppies, and ox-eye daisies.








 I am always in awe of the amazing detail of God's creation.


The poppies are going to seed all too quickly, 
but even the large seed pods add interesting texture to the spring perennial bed.


Did you know that poppies are a symbol of remembrance?   
Click here to learn more about this beautiful flower's special significance.

Every year when the poppies bloom, I remember my sweet friend Mary Nell who gave me my first poppy seeds.   They are a gift that keeps on giving.


Sadly there won't be many poppies blooming for the garden tour in a couple weeks, but as they fade away, the summer perennials will be picking up the slack.

I've been busy getting my garden ready for the tour.   Stay tuned....I'll be posting about a little backyard "bling" I've added to my garden this spring.

I hope you enjoyed the poppies as much as I do every year!

Toni :-)

20 comments:

  1. Your garden is really going to shine during the tour, Toni! Praying all will be blessed seeing God glorified through your gardens!

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    1. Thanks, Cat! That is exactly what I have been praying. 1 Corinthians 3:7 "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow."

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  2. The poppies look lovely! It's a great combination of colours, and they compliment the house very nicely, giving it a cottage-y feel.

    (And the seed heads are beautiful in their silvery green; the plant would be worth growing for those alone, I think, if perhaps not in quite such large numbers.)

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    1. Thank you, Soren :-) I pull out some of the spent poppies and leave some just for the seed heads because they are so interesting (plus I need the seeds for next year's display!)

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    1. Thank you, Tatyana. I wonder if your little pooch would like my poppies as well as the ones in your picture :-)

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  4. Your gardens look magnificent. Just tell your poppies to hang in there for a little while. I'm sure everyone who passes by is stunned by all the beauty. Here's hoping you have a wonderful day for your tour. Take photos- that is something I always forgot to do. I seemed to be too busy chatting!

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    1. Oh, yes, someone will be taking pictures :-) And I'll be chatting! Such a fun day to talk gardening all day long :-) I vacillate between feelings of, "Yes, my garden is tour ready, bring 'em on".... to feelings of panic and "Oh, no, what have I done!" It will be what it will be, and I (and hopefully everyone else) will enjoy the day :-)

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  5. What a stunning spring display! Just glorious! You must get a lot if traffic in front of your house as people slow down to admire your garden...I know I would!

    Do you use a lot of mulch? Just wondering because I sowed poppies one fall and the only ones that came up where in the areas where there wasn't much mulch. I use pine straw for mulch here and I notice that I have trouble direct sowing any seeds that need to sit on the soil surface. I think the pine straw blocks out too much sun. If I start them in pear pots they are fine but I never get nearly as many as you do that way so I was wondering how you do it.

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    1. Hi Meghan,
      My front perennial bed is so full of perennials and reseeding annuals (spring wilflowers/summer cosmos) that I don't mulch that bed very much anymore. I usually just mulch the edges where any soil is exposed. So, yes, I guess that's how I have such good poppy germination because those tiny seeds are not covered up. I do get drive-by poppy peepers :-) I love it when folks stop and I can visit with them and share poppy seeds. I have met the nicest people!!

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  6. Wow...your poppies and garden look amazing! I can't imagine the work that goes into getting a garden ready for a tour. You must be exhausted. I hope all goes well and all your plants cooperate :).

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    1. Thanks, Karin! My excitement keeps me going on tour prep :-) I might crash after it is over, though. With our warm winter I was able to get a lot of things done in my yard before jobs for clients started gearing up. I'm praying for a beautiful day and lots of visitors. It is such a fun day to visit with other garden enthusiasts!! I wish you could come. I'll try to do a "walk through my garden" post (after the tour) so my far-away blogging friends can come on the virtual tour :-) Thanks for visiting.

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  7. I bet your neighbors are SO happy you're there...making the place so beautiful.
    Good luck with the tour. Can't wait to see your new 'bling'.
    I agree with Lancashire Rose...take pictures of the tour. Or better yet, assign someone that job. You'll be busy.

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  8. Love your poppies! And I like the look of the seed pods as much as the blooms, so whether they're still blooming when you have your tour or not, your garden will be beautiful. I wanted to drive up to see your garden on tour, but my mother asked me to drive her somewhere that weekend. I know everyone that tours your garden will be blown away by its beauty. I hope it inspires others to start gardening!

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  9. I didn't see any sominfera poppies:) They were some other species, I'm sure...

    I enjoy my poppies as well, but they bloom later here Toni.

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    1. Somniferum poppies? The Flanders Poppies are actually Papaver rhoeas, Red Corn Poppies. As far as I know, mine are the somniferum variety. Regardless, I enjoy them every spring :-)

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  10. So beautiful--I agree, they're truly a gift. I love the drifts of color around your fountain!

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  11. Hi Toni, Your gardens are fabulous! Love the poppies too. Have a great week, and good luck on the garden tour. I know your garden will shine.

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  12. They're really beautiful! I've never grown poppies but now I'm feeling inspired. Interesting Latin name. These aren't the poppies from Oz that make you sleepy, are they? :o)

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  13. Your garden is so gorgeous, Toni! You must be a very proud gardener especially when it gets praises from family and friends. Take care, Farida :)

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