Poppyless in Seattle (well, Woodinville, really)

After looking at everybody's pictures from the summer, I'm having a serious case of poppy envy. Anybody interested in sharing some seeds with me? I don't really have much to offer in exchange as I'm new to propagation and seed-gathering, but I do have lots of different sedums.

Kathy
Woodinville, WA

Hi again!
Papaver - which one? If somniferum, I have lots: mixed colours.
Orientals? I have - Orange w/ purple splotched centers. I can dig & get you roots.
Make sure you get a colour you REALLY like as they will be with you a very long time.

Hey you!! Thanks.

I love color in general. I'll incorporate these in sections of the beds I have and am creating as they complement the color schemes (or lack of). Somniferum or oriental would be cool.

I hate for you to have to dig. What about just seeds? Wouldn't that be easier?

Kathy

Hi Katie,

I have some seeds from this breadseed poppy, if you would like some.

This message was edited Aug 30, 2007 9:55 PM

another pic of same poppy

Wow, both of those are great!

Hmm.. I don't have any poppies either. I'll have to ponder this lack for next year. I don't want any right now, though.

Has anyone tried that purply plum one? I know B&D lilies sells seeds of a purple one, and Annie's annuals have a bunch. Which ones do you like best? Which don't you like, and why?

Katie, do you mind my asking a few poppy-related questions?

Beautiful. essentialplanet [I love that handle], I would love some seeds from that. It'll go perfectly in my pinks and purples with pops of other color bed. Can I send you a SASE?

BTW, my folks live in Corvallis and my brother lives in Philomath. I drove right by you when visiting for my dad's 89th birthday a couple weeks ago. Small world.

Thank you, thank you!!!

Kathy

Hi Kathy,

You have D-Mail

Kathy, P. soms in tomorrows mail for you

Digging Oriental Poppy roots is not a tough job - actually, it is a quick & painless procedure.
I will be digging them anyway, just to keep them in check - so if you want them, do tell.
On P. somnifs: if you have an area that has absolutely lean/gravelly soil cast the seeds there. Also - they seem to like it right near a concrete surface - perhaps the leachates from the concrete? Add full sun & voila! More than you could ever dream of!

Katye -

Sweet!!! I have an aread right next to the gravel drive that I'm trying to reclaim from the forest. It gets full sun from about 11:00 on. I think these would be stunning. I'll work on getting out the berries and salal this weekend and adding a little sand to the top of the soil.

Balvenie -

Thank you!! I'm so excited. Like a little kid. Having plants from other seasoned gardeners has got to be the best part.

Susybell -

Just saw your post. No, ask away. This is a great way for me to learn about poppies and what people are trying.

Kathy

P. somniferum 'Lauren's Grape' - grew it last year - get the seeds! then get more!
P. orientale - 'Patty's Purple' - perennial. Planted this year, anxiously awaiting 2008 spring...
B& D Lilies sells seeds of the Black poppy, I think it's a somnif.
sure looks pretty in the photos.

the purpley plum one I grow is Patty's Plum - fabulous - looks the colour of old faded fabric with a hint of gold in it. doesn't mix well with other colours however - so its worth growing in a good folliage area, but it is a stunner. I find the best way to multiply is grow it, lift it and move it a bit. The old space will then come up with 3 new plants from the roots left behind. Then lift those after flowering. You can get a brillant stand of them in just a couple of years. It also seems to be remonstrant so remember to cut it down mid summer after flowering for a late summer second blossoming.

Patty's Plum has to be grown from root/off shoot cuttings, doesn't come true from seeds, but I am sure it is available in your nurseries.

seems that I have gotten my plums & purples mixed. Yes to Laurie's post. Keep 'em moving for more & more & more.
This colour is a bit difficult - Laurie, what do you think? If you had to put another colour in the mix, what would be the least offensive choice? I planted mine by shrubs so I wouldn't have to make that very decision!

Katye, I was just thinking about what it could go with when you said that - can we think of any antique white, or extremely pale yellow? But what shape? It is such a vavoom flower in shape it is hard to imagine what could grow around it (plus its leaves can wipe out a small city with their spread!)

Like you I have mine against a background of leafy greens, but actually quite separate, nothing to snug up to and consequently it leaves a bald spot when they are over and need cutting back. What would you think about an interplanting of Carex Buchanii? I think the coppery grass would compliment the blossom very well - and could cope fairly well with needing to keep a distance from the smothering leaves, but still fill the space nicely when the poppies are cut down.

The other thought I had - if it is kept quite separate, underplanting with later growing Dahlias - they start to really push up about the time you cut the poppies over - and you would have a complete change. Again, if you use the Carex Buchanii around the Poppy/Dahlia area it could be quite a stunning effect. I think growing Dahlia Requiem (amazing hot Fuschia-ish pink) would be wonderful with the Carex, and a great follow through to the more smokey Patty's Plum.

I might even risk mixing in some Lobelia Cardinalis Queen Victoria with that. It could pull the vibrancy of the Requiem down a little - and what a contrast of that perfect red Lobelia/dark leaf with the deep green leaves and the Carex.

I'm game for that one. (Can you tell I am back at workwork? Holidays are over and I am in London again - I have to say it takes me a few days to get use to be in such close proximity to others. I keep growling - but then so does my terrier - or at least that what I point at "its him, he's a terrier!")

Hello tillys - Is Pixy back yet?

Had not considered the Carex - but that or other dark foliage might work. The only whites I can think of are blooming at the wrong time, which is why I favour the foliage/grasses theme. It is a stunner, but I had to move it because it it was too off.
Today is a holiday for most of us. Hoping it will not rain until after dark - must do the anti-precipitation dance. Darn - where's Pixy? She's so good at that!

Wow, can Pix make it stop too? Sheesh.

Hey Laurie, How was your vacation, And have not heard from pixy wonder if she is back yet didn't she go to Vegas or did she go and come back and went somewhere else??

Katye When is the best time to move poppy's around here. I need to move some of mine. I have the oriental pink/salmon

Katie59 I can dig you up a couple if you like I need to divide some too.

essentialplanet, I would love some of the pinks seeds, The only thing I have to trade right now is Blue Columbine seeds.

Didn't pix come back from Vegas and then go off to Idaho?

Tillys this look just marvelous - I do love the way you install your garden in amongst all of the remnants of the woods - it is absolutely fab. Still thinking about your lovely border around the lilies from the remains of - was it ivy vines? - envy making. And the floral seat cushion in the happy place - too good too good. I love visiting.

the vacation was soooooooooooo good (thank you for asking) - three weeks of only doing what I wanted to do (we fibbed to get out of a drinks party - told them we had a tree down that had to be cut up, threatening the fencing - in principle its true - we have about a dozen trees threatening the fencing - we just get to them when we get to them - actually we save them to get out of drinks parties) Honestly, by time we finished work I was wondering if I should go to have a scan for pre-senile dementia. I couldn't spell worth beans, and goodness, I just couldn't come up with anyone's name - I really was wondering 'is this the beginning of Alzheimers' - But by last night, driving back to London, Husband dear described me as being back to 'being multi-nonlineal, and a controlled non-sequential thinker' - his way of saying 'interesting'. Hmmpf. Academics do have a peculiar (which I can spell again) sense of compliment.

so we have been back to work for less than a day, and it is total immersion - which really makes me think about gardening. Escapism - too true. Now time for bed, I'm whacked. TTFN

Ha! I am linear/random ---- go figure!

best time of year for moving poppies?
I would move most things anytime I've got my spading fork with me & provided we aren't having a heat wave! Which would translate: now.
The oriental P's should have their post-flower leaves up by now, so they are easy to spot, which is when I like to go after them. So - this week. I don't think we are going to get any major weather changes - Lord knows we didn't get the heat for our tomatoes...trying not to yell in frustration...
I have moved shrubs & perennials over the past couple weeks & so I am not worried. If you are skittish about doing it now, wait until the middle of the month. I am running out of time 'cause the only time I have is post work & weekends, not to mention the sunis not gracing us until 9 pm any longer. Whenever you do it, just be sure to water deeply & watch the plant(s) in the event we might get our summer this fall - like that's going to happen!

Katye - I'm with you about moving plants. I think I have quoted Christopher Lloyd here before, but I like his approach "Best time to move a plant is when you are thinking about it". Dynamic gardening - keep it moving.

After that down pour last nite And the post leaves are out and 2 of them are blooming again so to day will be the day and going to move the irises too

And yes they are Ivy vines that where wrap around trees for years.

It was a downpour (with thunder and lightening) in Woodinville last night, too. Finished some things off that will need cleaning up today.

Laurie1: Love Christopher Lloyd's comment. So like him. Hadn't heard that one before . . . I have 4 rhododendrons to move this. They are big and well-established and are obstructed the view of the yard from the house. I understand that rhodies are forgiving when moved, but wanted to wait until the rains started and the weather cooled down to give them a little better chance. Guess it's time to do it now.

Kathy

Hi Kathy,

How big are your Rhododendrons? I have a couple of really big ones in a location where I don't want them.

Should they be trimmed down severely before digging them up?

Boel:

My rhodies are 3-4 feet tall and very full. I'm not going to prune them before transplanting. Haven't heard that you need to. Here's a picture. The only time I've transplanted a full-grown rhody we pretty much muscled it out of the ground. And we did it in the spring. The rhododendron did just fine. So I'm thinking that they are as forgiving as people say.

Salvia seeds in the mail to you today.

Balvenie (Robert):

I got p. somniferum seeds in the mail today from you. I'm thrilled. I'll scatter them as soon as the rain lets up. Thank you!!

Kathy

Katie, are the shrubs in front of the decking the Rhodies??? they definately need to be moved - but those are big big big! sheesh - I hate to say this, wish I was there with my big scaffolding tools, I love taking things like that out! Good excuse to do a lot of grunting and get all that pent-upness out of your system - go for it!!!! Enjoy enjoy - and then all that space to replant. Yes. the joy of gardening. (However, if they were mine, they would get lost somewhere in transit - I'm not a great fan of Rhodies - in fact, as Pix will attest when she resurfaces my feeling about them is 'off with their heads' - ) I'm so excited.

Yes, I'm guessing that these rhodies were planted 10 years ago or so. Since I moved in about 4 years ago, I've pruned them heavily twice, shaping them from the inside. They come out healthier and prettier each time, but they still obstruct my view from the house and hang over onto the deck.

Rhodies do so well here that I haven't the heart to get rid of them. They require absolutely no care, the are evergreen, and they flower heavily. I'll just move them into the wooded area to provide some contrast with the other natives. I'm planning on digging the replacement holes myself, and then asking a few of my neighbors to come over for the big move. My understanding is that their root balls are shallow; with the wet ground of fall, they should be too hard to dig out. I think it's the moving part that will require a village. We'll put each rhody on a tarp and drag it to the new location, methinks. Anyway, that's the plan. :-)

The deck faces south (the picture is taken from the south looking north) and so it gets quite warm. I'm planning on replacing the rhodies with a bed full of those plants that have lots of color and like heat but aren't too high. I'll also probably add a set of steps somewhere in the middle to provide more access to the back and emphasize ease of movement from inside to out and back.

My ultimate plan is to add more beds into the lawn space while leaving room for my Whippet and Silkens to run in between.

So I wish you were here, too, Laurie. I love that enthusiasm. I'll try to remember to post pictures after everything has been moved.

Kathy

I moved a Rhodie a few years back, it was a very large one. We had to use a pickup truck to pull it out of the ground after we dug around it. It came back just fine. 2 people and a truck, And yes You will need all the hands you can get those look pretty big, Cant wait to see what you do with the area after.

Laurie here is a close-up pic of the vine fence.

Thanks, Mary, for the encouragement. Several of the people I hope to have come help have big trucks, so it may be that we'll need to borrow one of them. My only fear is that the ground will be wet enough by then that I'll end up with big gouges in the lawn from the truck tires. But c'est la vie, I guess. It's not like the ground is really that even now. And there's not anything that can't be repaired or turned into a bed. LOL

Kathy

oh oh oh! Sounds like a new bed to me!
Rhodies tend to transplant well here as long as you saturate the destination & the rootball too. Dig, tarp pull - how well I know this routine!
Makes you appreciate digging perennials...
Kathy - I will dig the poppies this weekend & pot up to keep them happy. I will let you know when they are ready for delivery - can drop off when i go out to Molbaks.

Thanks, Katye!!!!

Yes, will be planning the bed design this winter. Maybe I'll start a thread and ask for help from you all once I have the dimensions of the bed.

Kathy

All I can say is a lawn will come back, mine has seen a lot of traffic over the past few years cars driving over it, log trucks etc. But It always comes back. And only temporary damage. But fixable. know problem/////

I guess you're right. And this lawn (with a nice variety of native weeds) has been here since the house was built 30 years ago, methinks. I'm just wary because the dogs track enough winter dirt in as it is - I don't want them to have any extra opportunity. Someday I'll be able to afford to have slate tile throughout the public areas of the house and it won't matter so much to me.

LOL - and where I've taken lawn out to make beds, the grass is still trying to come back. :-)

Kathy

Been there done that. I have a acer of property that my son, my brother, and my DH have brought in cars or have had cars that have broke down , Now I have 15 cars to get rid of. You would not believed the mess. This is my vacation,And I get to sort it all out.
This pic is one half.

This is the second half.
I have my Happy Places which is Happy Trails, Purple Haze. And just not look any where else. the big clean up starts in Am dumster coming and tow trucks.

Spouses!! Can't live with 'em and can't live without 'em. Sounds like you'll get the last word, though. Good luck tomorrow. You've heard of freecycle.org, right? Post things for free and people come take them.

Kathy

You got It;.>>>>>>>>>>

Boel:

Got my seeds today (probably yesterday, but I didn't pick up the mail). Thank you!!

Kathy

Kathy,

I got mine today as well! Thank you so much!

Boel

Tilly,
Just think how much room you will have for more flowerbeds once the "boys" stuff is gone!

Freecycle and Craigslist are the best! You get rid of the stuff you don't want and someone who is looking for it is delighted!

Excited to see what you will do with your "reclaimed" yard :0) BTW I love your tree bark with the old ivy on it, it's so whimsical!

Last summer I lost two of my native fir trees to the heat, they were about 6 feet tall. So instead of pulling them out I trimmed the boughs off and made them into a "bottle tree" and a "tea tree!" When my husband came over to see what I was up to he looked at me with that "have you lost your mind" look. I informed him that it was full of whimsy and proceeded to show him several other "garden art" ideas that where in some of my gardening magazines. I think my "trees" are growing on him!