Perhaps it was all those cool, rainy days we had this spring. Maybe it was the love we gave the soil before we started to plant. Whatever it was, we’ve had a fantastic burst of poppies in the garden in 2009.
It all started when I threw some seeds of Shirley Single Blend poppies (Papaver rhoeas) into a small, unused area of our property.
The space had sandy soil, which we had amended with plenty of compost and well-aged cow manure. As the seedlings grew, I periodically added fish fertilizer with high phosphoric acid and potash to stimulate the blooms. This annual is estimated to grow 2 to 4 feet, and we’ve easily seen these poppies reach those heights so far.
Little seedlings have slipped under the fence, and are nestled among my more formal perennials in a charming but pretty mess.
The range of cheerful colors – pink, white, rose and red – are wonderful for any cottage garden.
Besides, the way this charming poppy reseeds, I’m afraid we’ll never get rid of these flowers now.
But these poppies are so pretty. Somehow, I don’t think we’ll mind very much that we are stuck with these lovely flowers for many years to come. Would you?
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Teresa, I love poppies and yours are charming! I also threw some seeds 5 years ago and had beautiful red poppies that are shown on my blog header(with a puppy sniffing them). The plants appeared again the next year, but that was it. I wish they would become permanent in my garden!
Gorgeous. And you deserve all those blooms with that conscientious feeding and amending. Bravo.
Tatyana, I DO remember those poppies. They are just lovely. Well, there's no telling that we'll have reseeded poppies forever. But I have a feeling there are many seeds now floating around my garden. so, I remain hopeful. Thanks for stopping by… Teresa
Helen, thanks very much. Sometimes Mother Nature does smile down on your efforts. Hope you'll stop by again. Teresa
Oh Teresa, those are just fabulous! I'd be in heaven if my poppies did that. I've got some blooming (Shirley and Breadseed), but not in that quantity.
I especially like the bottom photo.
Kylee, Thanks so much for your comments. I never expected to get such a wild bunch of poppies. In fact, I planted a bunch of other stuff too — but the poppies won this round.
Hope you'll come back again. Teresa
I just love annual poppies. Very pretty.
Thanks Kim and Victoria: It's been a GREAT year for poppies this year.
They looks splendid. My poppies are just starting to grow. I'll admire yours until mine do their thing. Kay?~~Dee
I love the way the poppies reseed too and yours look spectacular. What a cheerful addition to any garden.
Dee: Absolutely! Although I should warn you that these poppies came from 2009. But the ones that reseeded this year will be blooming any minute… Thanks for stopping by. Teresa
Kat: Thanks for your nice message. Yes, poppies are one the plants I like to have reseed. Now, weeds… not so much. 😉 Teresa
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