and they call it poppy love

poppy's are so beautiful !

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They really are beautiful, and it's the one plant I truly have sun envy over. I planted a couple in '06 at the back of my daylily bed, hoping that I'd have enough sun for them to bloom before all the trees fully leaf out. Every year, the foliage comes back, but I never get flowers. Last year I had a bud, but something destroyed the stem before it could bloom. This year I see a few buds there....will this be the year I actually get a bloom?! We'll see....

Really nice pics, Laura.

- just went out and counted, and there are four buds on one, and two on another. Fingers crossed that something actually happens this year! Poor little sun starved poppies.

This message was edited May 20, 2010 7:23 AM

Very nice, Laura!

noreaster , the type I have are really the common ones and I find they are the heartiest, requiring less pampering including sun . I got these from a wildflower seed mat that my uncle red gave me back in the 80's and I still have them , they sort of do their own thing and come up where ever they like . I guess the trick is to recognise them and not pull them out , they are short lived plants so I always leave a few seed head to mature and insure I will have a constant supply . Last year was a weird year with all the rain we had in the spring and early summer I bet you have better luck this year . If not let me know and I will drop a seed head in the mail for ya
thanks victor

Yes, the foliage really looks like a weed, so I can see how that would be easy to do. Last year's rain dramatically affected the plants in my garden so I suppose it's possible that's why the poppies are looking good, too. I still think I don't have near enough sun for them to be truly happy, though. The daylilies bloom, but I couldn't say they are exactly thriving where they are. So you actually grow those red ones from seed? How much sun do they get? I have three clumps, and even the smallest one has a little bud in there. I'm really excited and hope I finally get to see something! I don't even remember what kind of poppy they are....I think they might be the salmon colored ones.

Oh aren't they pretty and look at all the buds you have to bloom. I have a new one this year but it is small and will probably not bloom until next year I think. Good tip on keeping a few pods for seeds too.
Noreaster I hope your buds will open and you can post a pretty pic as well. I think that awful wet weather last year effected a lot of plants. Things seem to be a lot more like usual this year thank goodness.

This message was edited May 22, 2010 9:01 AM

oooooooo so prettiful oooooooooo Thanks laurawege

very nice.. I should have a couple open soon

Ugh, well I should have known something would go wrong. I was out inspecting the buds today and saw a bunch of black spots all around several of them. I think they are some kind of eggs...maybe aphid? I sprayed them insecticidal soap but don't know if that will do anything to them. I really hope that this doesn't mean doom for my never blooming poppies! :(

Oh NO Noreaster! Hopefully the spray will take care of what ever it is. Thats a nice big bud!!! I'll need to go check mine, must have buds by now.

Beautiful pictures Laura, and I too like "Poppy Love" ^_^

very nice laura you are a bit earlier than here.

All so beautiful!! But I must share one of the 50 or so photos I took of what one would call poppies on major steroids! They were truly the most beautiful things I have yet to seen in my only 4 years of gardening. Although I gave them a dusting of spring wake up fertilizer in April, the 3 plants I planted last fall happen to be at the bottom of a hill driveway where I created a flower bed hoping the soil had enough drainage not to cause problems. Every time it rains thats where it all ends up but I built it up a bit with railroad ties so the water is entering from below and not flooding the actual plants. Like I said I fertilized with Epsoma general garden spread added a handful of compost and some perlite around each plant and BAM, 7' stalks with blooms like huge chalices. It was supernatural! The best of all I finally got the color I had most desired ... salmon/pink with purple interior. Took the photos at the break of dawn for the best light. Enjoy ! What a show!

another

lastly

Wow! Just beautiful and it sounds like they are huge. I can see why you were looking for this color. They evidently are very happy in their location and with your good care. Seven foot stalks, my goodness, what a nice reward for your hard work. Thanks for showing us.

Those are big, and beautiful!!!

GORGEOUS!!!

Beautiful, Laura and Jep!!! I love them and hope my one poppy will do something this year. I think I am too sun challenged for them.

very nice!!

Yes, gorgeous!

beautiful !

So beautiful!

Well my poppies of four years in the making managed to open and they were orangey red. I went to inspect one the other day, and of course saw this, my nemesis. There is no escaping slugs in my garden! They have to go and ruin everything!

Bill if I have poppies you should. A poppy leftover top

That's a cool shot, schickenlady. Everything about poppies is intereresting, it seems.

Nice close up shot. I agree every thing about these plants are interesting to see.

But you have to plant other stuff around them to hide the weedy foliage the 50 weeks of the year they aren't in bloom. I have dianthus that I think came from Amy.

We had a good year. A pale coral one opened later but I think it's still in the camera.

Very pretty carrie. Yep just need something in front like with bulbs to cover the foliage demise. Can't beat those big bright blooms. Love how the light is shinning through.

Wind and rain made a short season here. Loved what I did have

Thanks! My daughter took a lot of those inside, Georgia O'Keefe type pictures a few years ago with a film camera - who knows where they are now. But it does make you feel like an artiste, non?