Friday, August 8, 2008

Poppies

I love poppies, if I had the space, I would be growing every variety here.
This beauty was part of a clump that grew on a corner, and every time I drove home I would make a mental note to bring the camera next time but I kept forgetting. In the evening the sun glowed through the petals. The day after I shot this, we had a torrential downpour, and there was nothing left of them, but soggy Kleenex petals.
The Icelandic poppies, that are so hard to shoot, because they nod with the slightest breeze. Last only a few days, but make the greatest back lit shots.
This is one year that they have been especially magnificent! Must have been that cold wet spring we had.
I inherited this wonderful tall red poppy with split crimson petals, it was growing in my garden plot of our building.
Everyone kept asking what it was, and why I had left it in the garden plot. With it's green gray leaves, it quickly grew to a height of over 4 feet. And then, it bloomed! It was truly lovely.
So now I am letting it go to seed, and next year I will scatter the seeds everywhere, just call me, Jenny Poppy Seed.
This one had amazing deep purple pollen in the centre, it made me want to jump in, and roll around. I can't capture the depth of the color.
It also came in white with purple pollen dotted all around the petals.
Now we have to wait an entire year to see them again, their season is fleeting, but they are so worth having in the garden.

9 comments:

  1. Lovely photos! I sure have enjoyed my visit to your blog!

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  2. I thought poppy season was near Canada's Remembrance Day? Don't you guys wear poppies then? Or am I mixing something up?

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  3. Fern,
    Our Rememberance Day is similar to your Veterns Day. Here is a link describing them. We wear the poppies on November 11, to remember and honor the veterns.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Day

    And there is a very famous poem written by Lt. Col. John McCrae. In Flanders fields the poppies grow.

    http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/flanders.htm

    Our poppies here in BC grow from about April, to mid summer. There are still some blooming, although they prefer cool weather.
    Jen

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  4. Your pictures are great. Look like they came out of a garden book! Garden till ya drop!

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  5. Hi Jen - love your poppy photos. They are one flower I don't have yet, but would love to plant.

    Physio is going slow and steady :) I've been cleared to try adding some gym equipment and see how it goes. Looks like I'll be doing physio visits at least until the end of September and will continue working on my own until I can see the surgeon again.

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  6. It's a lovely shot of the drive by poppy, good timing. I've missed a few photos that I wish I had taken the day before a storm. Your tall red poppy is beautiful.
    How are you enjoying your new camera? I've been looking at getting a DSLR after borrowing someone's. I did some comparing, but have put off the decision.

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  7. Hunky Gardener, I quickly checked out your blog, and I will be back.
    Yooo are AWWWWWWSommmme. LOL.

    Jen

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  8. Amy, sorry to hear that it's been such a long process. Heal well. Take care of your knee. And I am looking forward to seeing more posts from you when you get time.
    Jen

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  9. Northern Shade, I LOVE the camera. I was going to wait until Christmas because I thought I might get a better deal, but it is so worth it to purchase it now. Just being able to walk outdoors whenever I want to shoot something is great. Not one regret. So I am happy.
    Jen

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Your comments are the flowers that bloom in my virtual blogging garden.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

PS: No word verification here, sorry I cannot reply to blogs that use word verification.