I think I have a problem. I love my garden, but I love poppies even more. So, in my raised beds meant to grow vegetables, most poppies popping up are allowed to stay.
I’ve had to remove a few of the common red ones that want to take over the whole yard, but when I come to a pure white one, I just can’t yank it out. It would be sacrilege,
especially when the whole family of puritans lies down in submission.
Here is my confession:
A few years ago, when I was sitting in the truck one day waiting for the Captain to do some business in a shop, I noticed some pretty poppies in a flowerbox under the store window. Some of them had gone to seed, so I snapped off a couple of the seed pods and put them in my pocket. I felt a stab of guilt, but the seeds would have fallen, mostly on the driveway, and been lost anyway.
I planted those seeds at home and here is one of the progeny of the flowerbox poppies. The wild hairdo is unmistakable.
But wait! The story isn’t over.
In the grocery store one day, I saw the lady who owned the shop with the flowerbox window. She’s a lovely lady in her 80s, and I felt a twinge of guilt about having snapped up some of her poppy seeds. I approached her and told her that I had admired her poppies by her shop window last year.
“Oh you can take some of the seeds, if you like. Help yourself!” she said.
My face went a deeper shade of red as I cleared my throat. “Well, that’s just it. I did … last year … and the babies are growing in my yard right now. I just wanted to thank you and tell you how much they mean to me.”
“You’re very welcome,” she said. “They’re nice aren’t they? Take all the seeds you want.”
The lady has since retired and the flowerbox is neglected, but I always think of her when her pink poppies with the wild hairdo bloom.
Great story! And beautiful poppies!
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Thanks! I think that will be the last poppy post! Thank heavens!
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Not while they’re still blooming! Mine are already gone.
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They look lovely! It’s always good to come clean… 😉😎🌺🌸
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I don’t know if poppies might survive our deer. Could it be worth a try?
Have a wonderful Sunday,
Pit
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Great story, Anneli! You saved those little seedling. 🙂
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I like to think of it that way too, and they’ve been happy for a few generations already.
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Think of it this way. You weren’t doing anything wrong when you took those seeds. You planted them and helped enrich the planet.
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I like your outlook. You’re right. They wouldn’t have lived long trying to grow on the driveway.
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Beautiful poppies!
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These photos show a really wonderful garden. 🙂
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Thank you, Lynette. I get a lot of enjoyment out of the flowers, but I wouldn’t want to have to live off the veggies I grow. I’m letting them gt crowded out by the flowers. Can’t help it.
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I’ve had a bumper crop of the yellow/orange California poppies, but I haven’t experienced these beautiful colors and varieties that you show here! I think it may be just as rewarding to enjoy these blooms as the vegetables they crowd out! What a nice story, to hear that this generous woman was glad to share with you. 🙂 They really are special!
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Oh, you just reminded me – I do have some California poppies (just a few) and I forgot to post a picture of them. I hope their feelings won’t be hurt that I’ve overlooked them.
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Have you ever grown a blue one? I tried one once but it died. As I recall it was an expensive plant too. Much better to steal (I mean rescue) seeds when you find them!!
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No, but I think they may be what we called Icelandic poppies??? Not sure. I’d love to try it. Yes, “borrowed” seeds work well for me.
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I think it may have been called Himalayan Blue.
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I will watch for them in the nurseries. Maybe I can get seeds for them someplace.
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I can’t imagine having too many of these beauties! Enjoyable read.
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Thanks, Belinda. It started off as a little hobby, trying to save seeds of the more unusual poppies, but this year I didn’t plant any of those poppies. They are all volunteers, growing wherever they want and reseeding themselves. Fun to see what colours pop out to surprise me.
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Anneli, perhaps we should start a support group. 🙂 I have the same problem. I love your rescue poppy as well as all the others growing in your garden. Your photos are so beautiful!!!
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The Poppy Proppers! Yes, we could prop each other up. Good idea.
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Love the Poppy story.
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Thanks, Lori. Guess my reputation is shot now!
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Naww. Look at it this way, you re-homed seeds and gave them a good life. 🙂
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Yeah, I suppose so.
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My garden looks shameful! Beautiful pictures!
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Right now, mine looks pretty bad. Hurt my back and can’t weed or do anything for a while. Nature will prevail.
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Sorry you hurt your back. Take it easy as the Eagles say…
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What a lovely story!
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Great story. Gorgeous poppies!!
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I think seed pods are ok to take since as you noted rarely would they be missed. Some people like others to “deadhead” their garden! Your pink poppy is beautiful!!
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I have done a lot of deadheading and gotten more blooms, but now I think they are pretty much finished. Just the last die-hards left.
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Gardening is well worth the effort when I see your gorgeous blooms, Anneli.
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