Purple Poppies

[The Other Lynda]

Jackie, m'dear - the weather here is getting warm (yes, I am rubbing it in :twisted: ) and I'm going to start the rest of the purple poppy seeds in the next day or so. Is there anything special I should do? Also, do you need any more of the four o'clocks?

[marla]

Purple Poppies???? never saw one, are they like the old fashion orange ornamental ones or smaller like a california poppy. I love 4'o'clocks, mine come back every year. My son lives in southern MO and teases me about the warmer weather all the time, he's forgotten what cold is, he called this winter to complain about 20 degrees, and it was -20 here.

[Jackie Ramo]

Lynda, I'd just throw the seeds on the bed you want them to grow. You can do that now as the seeds are cold hardy, even here :) I still have 4 oclock seeds you sent me last year so I think I am fine, none of them germinated last year I think the season was too progressed.

Marla, the purple poppies are annuals but they seed and come back each year.

http://www.jackieramo.com/pages/my%20garden/plants/2003-04/images/2004 plants_23_jpg.jpg

[Jackie Ramo]

Darn why doesn't the image show....

[The Other Lynda]

Have you seen the himalayan blue poppies? I saw them at a garden show several years ago - very, very expensive so I didn't get any. I think I'm going to order some this year - they're still expensive but I can't resist any longer! Here's a really good picture of one: http://stores.bulbmall.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDetail?storeId=10201&langId=-1&catalogId=10056&catentryId=19334
Ebay has some sellers selling seeds instead of plants - I may go that route, but that shade of blue is just mesmerizing...

[Terri]

http://www.jackieramo.com/pages/my%20garden/plants/2003-04/images/2004%20plants_23_jpg.jpg

Just testing... here's your pic Jackie.

[The Other Lynda]

Sigh... Aren't those just gorgeous? Come on, spring!

[Jackie Ramo]

Terri, I don't understand why it posted for you and not for me <big pout>

Lynda, I can not tell you how many years I spent trying to get a blue poppy to start from seed..... I saw a field of them in Vancouver... to die for!!! I bought a plant last year... will see if it comes up, now of course I have to remember where exactly I planted it... near the hardy orchids I think... [/img]

[Busy B]

Those are pretty Jackie! A double/frilley? Too cool! They look alot hardier than the blue.

[Jackie Ramo]

Actually the purple ones are annuals and the blue one is a perennial in zone 6. So the blue one is hardy.

I have seeds of the purple, if anyone wants them pm me your address and I'll mail them out.

[marla]

Jackie, those purple ones are to die for. I've never seen them before. I have tons of annuals that seem to return yearly I wonder if these would if left to go to seed?

[Jackie Ramo]

Marla, pm me your address and I will send you some. Certainly they come back here for me, even in the cracks in the sidewalk so be sure you like them :shock: In good soil they grow like the one pictured but in poorer soils they are much shorter and have less and smaller blooms.

They do not bloom all summer, or don't for me, they have a short season but I never get out to deadhead as much as I should.

[The Other Lynda]

I love poppies and can't wait for the purple ones this year. I just ordered some Himalayan blue poppy seeds - we'll see if I have any better luck than you have, Jackie. If I do, I'll share some with you next year. Another warm day - I walked around the property and all the trees are budding - my magnolia soulangiana has tons of flowers coming - hope we don't get a hard freeze. Another couple of weeks and I should have fruit trees flowering all over the place!

[Jackie Ramo]

I definately have to move closer to you, we got a foot of snow yesterday and today a bit more. Temps are dropping so low I think I live next door to Busy. In a couple of months the fruit trees will be budding.... bah humbug, I hate winter :evil:

[The Other Lynda]

I keep tellin you that! Come on down, and I'll have my friend Debbie the Realtor show you around... The guestroom is clean, sheets on the bed just waiting for you - let me know a day in advance and I'll make sure Rachel is dolled up and ready to greet you properly! I'll even make sure to find some real "cowboys" for Smith. :lol:

[Jackie Ramo]

We'll be down right after we win the lottery :lol: Btut heck why don't I come down for the rest of the winter.... BTW I like cowboys probably more than Smith does :oops:

[The Other Lynda]

Come on down - you're welcome anytime - stay as long as you want. I'm sure I can find some garden design work for you to do on these three acres! Promise to find some cowboys (for YOU!)

[Jackie Ramo]

It would be worth the trip just to hug you my dear.