![]() They have a metallic quality I think with tinges of gold and silver visible through the camera lens. The poppy seed heads are decaying now yet they are still quite beautiful when you look closely at them. Alternatively you can pick them and store the seeds in a paper envelope until next spring. They are tiny, shiny and black and as the wind whips the old poppy stems around the seeds are scattered. Tiny openings appear at the top of the pod just like a little pepper shaker. Gradually the poppy stems turn a pale straw colour and the seed heads dry and turn quite brown and grey and mottled. That is quite futile because the seeds are not ripe when they are green. Head gardeners complain that garden visitors tend to pinch a few poppy seed heads at this stage spoiling the look of the plants in their gardens. When the seed heads first form they are quite plump and a greenish blue colour as shown above. ![]() They are fascinating to look at close up. The Opium Poppy Papaver somniferum is popular and easy to grow. ![]() Luckily I collected some Poppy seed heads earlier this week so they are dry and suitable for photos. The storm will pass and life will carry on. As it’s too wet to spend time in the garden I’ve been experimenting with photography in my greenhouse this afternoon. So today we have stayed inside to keep out of the wind and rain. We are quite safe and dry for now but we don’t know what the local roads will be like in the morning. It’s not the highest hill in the county but it is the highest point around here. This house sits on top of a hill and we have lovely views. We thought that it was a risk worth taking. Apparently we are at risk from both the sea rising and local rivers overflowing. We were warned that this was a high risk area for flooding when we bought our home. That’s more than a month of rain… a heck of a lot of extra water. Trees have fallen and there is flooding in some low lying areas. In places six to eight inches (15-20 cm ) of rain fell in 24 hours. We have had torrential rain and gale force winds for the past two days. We are feeling the brunt of ex hurricane Kate… the first storm of the season to hit us and the Met Office have named this storm Abigail. We have had a lovely mild autumn so far and it seems that we are paying for it now. Does not transplant well.The weather is foul here in North West England. Truly spectacular when heavily seeded in an isolated area. Miscellaneous: State Highway Departments throughout the nation have begun planting Red Corn Poppies along their roadsides for motorists to enjoy. Suggested use: Flower gardens, roadsides, meadows, mixtures, cut flowers. Optimum soil temperature for germination: 60-70F An outstanding spring favorite.Īverage planting success with this species: 80% Performs best if sown in late fall in the southern regions of the U.S or in early spring in the northern regions of the U.S. ![]() Prefers well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. The foliage remains inconspicuous allowing the flower to express its full beauty. The large 2-4 inch blooms are fire engine-red vividly marked with purplish-black centers individually borne on erect hairy stems. Images and text copyright WILDSEED FARMS.Ī hardy annual native to Europe, which has naturalized throughout the United States.
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