Monday, February 11, 2013

Papaver somniferum

Poppies!  Doesn't everyone wish for a field of poppies in their yard?  We certainly do.  They're one of our favorite flowers.

Years ago, while visiting Allerton Park, my beloved and I were wowed by a vast field of large scarlet poppies in one of their many gardens.  We loved poppies already but after seeing that particular display we've desired to create a small field of our own ever since.

This year marks the beginning of poppy freak out!  Several plants of three different Oriental varieties (bright orange, scarlet, and a couple peach flowers) already grace a flower bed in the front yard, but this year we're going to attempt to grow three varieties of heirloom poppies from seed.

The poppy varieties that we will attempt to start from seed are Cherry Glow, Heirloom, and Mexican Tulip 'Sunlite'.  In May, we will receive one plant each of Imperial Pink and Lauren's Grape.  Now, we just have to decide where our poppy field will be grown.