Where Poppies Grow

Orange Poppy

We shall not sleep,

Though poppies grow.

In Flanders Fields

                                                   - John McCrae

Orange Poppies

 













    
     There is something about the poppy that is so alluring to me with it's fairy like papery petals.
     I have been growing the tall orange poppy, which seems to be one of the most popular poppies for years now. They always make a statement in the early spring when everything is still waking up from it's winter sleep. It gives us that first burst of colour with the promise of all the flowers to follow.
     If your lucky the spring rains won't beat them down before they have a chance to show off in all their glory. These poppies are tall and delicate so unfortunately don't fair very well in the wind and rain.

Pink Salmon Oriental Poppy

Pink Salmon Oriental Poppy

    Poppies are surprisingly easy to grow. They like sunshine and well drained soil. They require little watering and little care. Sounds perfect to me.
    There are small and large, single petaled or multi petaled poppies. They come in pink, yellow, orange, red, white and the rare Himalayan Blue.
   They are also easy to grow from seed. You can save the seed heads, dry them and sprinkle out the seeds. In the spring mix the seeds with a little sand and scatter in the garden. Do not bury the seeds, you can cover them with a very thin layer of soil instead.  
   I have just received the seed heads of a multi petaled beautiful pink poppy,  so hopefully next year I will have another poppy to add to my list. There are many different varieties of poppies and so far I have five.

Red Oriental Poppies

  
 My earliest blooming poppy is the orange poppy that I mentioned. Then there is my pink salmon Oriental poppy. This is such a pretty flower, it is a single petaled flower and really does resemble crinkled paper. Oriental poppies also have black spots at the base of the petals. Stunning!!
     I also have a red Oriental poppy that is almost neon in colour. It is a double petaled poppy and has a strong sturdy stem. This stands up well in the elements. I think I had about twenty blooms this year from a single plant. This is a real show stopper.

Red Oriental Poppy

Iceland Poppies

  

Iceland Poppy

   And then there is my Iceland poppies. These are small plants with small blossoms, one is a light orange and the other is three different colours (red, yellow and orange) The orange Iceland poppy blooms from spring through summer and would be a great addition to any sunshine garden.

Iceland Poppies

    Last year I purchased five poppies near the end of the season, they were  99. cents a piece. They didn't look like much at the time but for the price I figured it was worth a try. Three survived and one was my beautiful red Oriental poppy. So don't forget to scour the garden centres at the end of the season and see what gems you can find.

   Anybody who has seen the Wizard of Oz will remember the field of poppies.  And even though we likely won't have a mass of poppies like that in our gardens we can still have a beautiful display from spring through summer.
    So next time you are looking for something of interest to add to your garden consider the poppy.
Grow your own field of dreams.

    Happy Gardening!!

Spring is in the air

        'Springtime is the land 
              awakening,
          The March winds are 
              the morning yawn.'
                          - Quoted by Lewis Grizzard
   

              

Trilliums

   It may be hard to believe but spring has arrived. Depending on where you live the snow is gone, the daffodils are blooming and the birds are busy building their nests.
   It's that time of year where we get teased by warm days and then hit again with cold days. But sure enough the warmer weather is on its way.

     I love this time of year because it really is to early to get out there and start digging in the dirt but it is a great time to think about what you want to do in the garden. You're gearing up with ideas swirling in your head but you still have time to flip through seed catalogues, scour your gardening magazines and decide what changes you want to make and what plants you want to try.

Sedum Autumn Joy

    I like to start by making a list of plants I'd like to try and changes I want to make. Sometimes I need to divide plants, move them or get rid of them altogether.
    It's also a good time to think about what you want to do with your planters if you have them. Planning ahead saves you time in the garden centre and also helps you avoid buying plants that you don't need or won't work in your garden. I don't know about you but if I don't have an idea of what I need I go in there and it's like a candy store, I want it all.
   So know your garden before you go. Do you have a colour scheme, are you working with shade or full sun. Think about the succession of bloom times allowing your garden to bloom all season. If you want to attract butterflies and birds think about the type of plants you will need.

Christmas rose

 
    This is also the time to get your birdhouses out, I actually put mine out about two weeks ago.  I have a container for yarn that I bought at the One of a Kind show. In the spring I fill it with colourful strips of yarn for the birds and if I'm lucky I will see it tucked in nest here and there around the neighbourhood. I didn't have any yarn last year so I used my garden twine, it's not as colourful but works just the same.
    Also, don't forget about your bird feeders and bird baths. This is the perfect time to clean them and fill them up.

Mourning Cloak

Yarn holder for nesting

   So even though the days may still seem a little cold and spring doesn't look that promising trust that it is just around the corner.  
   Use this time to plan and dream and before you know it you will have the sun in your face and your hands in the dirt.

   And just in case you are still in doubt I have already seen two of these beautiful butterflies along with ladybugs and bees.

    Happy Gardening!!