Poppies

By Stacey Morgan Smith, May 25th, 2010, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia

red and white poppies

When we moved in to our home, we found a few pictures of the gardens in full bloom. We haven’t been able to identify the photograph location of several of the photos, but one shows beautiful red-and-white poppies.

dried giant poppy pods

Another hint that we might someday see some beautiful paper-like flowers was hidden in the top of the barn — old signs the previous flower farm owner used to sell her flowers. The sign read “Dried Giant Poppy Pods. 5 for $1.00.”

So not knowing what poppies look like as they grow,  I was excited to see a little burst of bright red this week in the big round garden that is full of ferns.

Well, it turns out not all of the ferns are ferns. There are a few “ferns” that are furry…and those are the poppies!

I’ve enjoyed seeing how fast the pods swelled, split, shed the green, unfurled their red and black petals, and then a few days later lost their color. This type of poppy is apparently a perennial, so I’m hopeful there are more hidden in the bed and that we’ll have more bright color soon!

poppy shedding

red and black poppy

poppy pod

*** This personal blog is comprised solely of the opinions, views, projects, and travels of its author, Stacey Morgan Smith. She is lucky enough to have loving family and friends whom she drags along with her on her adventures and whom she puts to work on her little farm. She uses this blog to help promote living in the mountains of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, from Roanoke to the Potomac River.**

May 25th, 2010 | Tags: perennial flowers, poppies | Category: gardening

8 comments to Poppies

• Erik

  April 21, 2015 at 4:05 am · Reply

  Hi I was just wondering if your still selling your decorative poppy pods? If so feel free to email back at Azerik79@gmail.com

  • Stacey Morgan Smith

    August 14, 2015 at 10:04 pm · Reply

    Sorry, we aren’t commercial. Check with your local garden center for recommendations!

• JD

  May 7, 2015 at 3:23 pm · Reply

  Would you like to sell any of these pods yourself?

  • Stacey Morgan Smith

    August 14, 2015 at 10:04 pm · Reply

    Sorry, we aren’t commercial. Perhaps your local nursery can recommend someone?

• Richard

  February 23, 2016 at 10:22 pm · Reply

  I too would be interested in purchasing pods

  • Stacey Morgan Smith

    March 2, 2016 at 12:03 pm · Reply

    Sorry, we aren’t commercial. Check with your local garden center for recommendations!

• Ethan

  May 8, 2017 at 9:58 pm · Reply

  Im trying to figure out what kind of poppy flower those are, i have the same kind growing in the back yard of our new home. They are big flowers but whats left when the pettals drop is small with a pretty purple top that looks just like your picture. Do you know what they are? The closest pics ive found on line dont have a name but someone told me they may be oriental poppys. Any thoughts?

  • Stacey Morgan Smith

    May 17, 2017 at 8:09 am · Reply

    Oriental poppy is what I’ve found, as well. I don’t know much about poppies, unfortunately! Thanks for stopping by.