For many years I have been collecting Oriental Poppies. These are the large brightly coloured (usually orange) flowers we see in flower beds in the spring time. And no, they are NOT the Opium Poppy (an annual plant which self-seeds but does not return from its root each year as the Orientals do).
While I have several of the orange variety ('Allegro' is a common species) I am always on the lookout for others.
About three years ago (or maybe it was four!) I bought by mail order a pink Oriental Poppy called 'Miss Piggy'. Well, I thought I lost her the first year. A few shoots came up and then disappeared. The following year there was a bit of foliage but no blossoms.
It seems these flowers, native to Turkey and Iran, like the cool wet winter/spring we have this year because not only has Miss Piggy bloomed (three flowers!) for the first time but her cousins are also putting on a glorious display.
Here is a photo of 'Miss Piggy'. The blooms are six inches across, and fully double in a very light pink colour. Please pardon the brown spots which I am certain are due to all the rain we have had in the past week!
This one is 'Picottee'.
Two varieties: 'Brooklyn' and 'Staten Island'
Sadly, some of my old favourites have taken this year off. Missing in action are: Patty's Plum, Pink Ruffles and Harlem. There's always next spring!
