A Blue Poppy Story

Hello Nancy,
        Don't I wish I could grow about anything.... but thank you for the
compliment.
        As it just so happens I do have a story to tell about the Famous Blue
Poppy. Some years ago I placed an order for seeds with Thompson and Morgan
as I do every three years or so. Everything was sown in their little pots
and placed outside to weather over until spring. If I remember correctly
what I thought I was sowing was Jacob's Ladder. Well, most of the plants
that germinated were....but one pot contained a strange looking plant I
knew was not a Jacob's Ladder. I left it since it was in a pot of its own
not bothering any of the others. It grew to about 8 inches or so and
bloomed around the first of June. When I saw the bloom open on those fuzzy
leaves I exclaimed "I know you!!" Went into the house and looked it up and
sure enough. Yep. You guessed it. The One and Only Famous Blue Poppy. In
the hot and dry of August I lost it. Just curled up and died.
        I now know I should not have allowed to bloom the first year. Almost
certain death to the plant. Also if I had moved it back to the rear of my
shady propagation area and kept watered along with the rest of my seedlings
it may have stood a chance. May have. The propagation area is under shade
trees and kept well drained and moist at all times.
        Made me think. I have a small wet-weather spring that flows from a small
cave opening in the rocks that form the center of my garden. My big worry
rock where I sit is located next to the cave to use the cool air coming
from that opening. I am thinking the 55 degree air all year round and the
moisture from the spring should give the poppy a fighting chance here in
Southern Indiana. Only worry would be the floods coming out of the cave
whenever it rains hard. Been thinking of trying it, just never have gotten
around to ordering more seeds and giving it a try. Blue Poppies in the
rocks forming the bottom of the little stream area leading out of the
garden sure would be a sight. Anyone want to trade some Blue Poppy seeds
for something on my list?
        Gene Bush     Southern Indiana    Zone 6a     Munchkin Nursery
          around the woods - around the world
genebush@otherside.com     http://www.munchkinnursery.com
        ----------
> From: nancy swell <swell@EROLS.COM>
>  Hi Helen,
>
> You aren't alone. The blue poppy is probably one of the most beautiful
> plants I have ever seen. I am struggling with Meconopsis cambrica, (the
> yellow Welsh poppy) which is a weed in England. I can't grow the blue
> poppy, and I really don't think that it can be grown on the East coast at
> all, or at least not well.  It can be grown on the west coast, where the
> climate is like England. That is why Heronswood has it. I don't really
know
> about the chicago area, but somehow, I doubt it. Check around your area,
> and see if anyone there has been able to grow it. Somehow, I think that
> your summers are too hot and dry for it. Ask Gene Bush. Think he can grow
> about anything that is growable. Went on a garden tour in England, and
took
> pictures from Powis Castle, Northern Wales (where it was just beginning)
to
> Wakehurst Place, South of London where it was in full bloom in all it's
> glory and 2 to 3 ft. tall. I did get teased unmercifully about my
> obsession, but still can't grow it.
>
> Nancy
>
> Nancy Swell
> Richmond, VA
> Zone 7?
> swell@erols.com
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