Monday, May 11, 2009

Himalayan Poppies and Blue Monday at Smiling Sally's



There are things we know to be true, things we know can't be true, and things that conspire to confound us. Years ago, while rummaging through a thrift shop, I found and claimed a watercolor with a blossom so intensely blue I believed it existed only in imagination. I had never seen a blue poppy and, doubting Thomas that I am, it, ergo, could not exist. To keep me humble, the fates and furies made sure I found the fabled Himalayan poppy. It was tucked in a far corner of a greenhouse flaunting a flower so intensely blue it hurt the eyes. That, of course, led to some investigation and, as things happen around here, a voyage of discovery. While I lobbied for the Himalayas, my soulmate thought Butchart Gardens a more practical destination. So we headed North in search of more blue poppies. We found them and since that time we've grown them, some years with more success than others. Gardeners know her to be a fickle lady. I thought you might enjoy a peek at this fabled beauty, so I'm send this to Smiling Sally for her Blue Monday event. For the record, I'm still lobbying for the Himalayas.

40 comments :

Unknown said...

Your pictures are gorgeous. I've never seen blue poppies!

bj said...

I have NEVER seen such a beautiful blue flower..so intense and just stunning. Thanks so much for sharing.

Mary Bergfeld said...

Elizabeth and bj, thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you'll both become regular visitors.

Susan C said...

That is one spectacular flower. Are the photos from your own garden.

Mary Bergfeld said...

Susan, only one is from our garden. We have had a bizzare spring here in Oregon and a lot of my beauties have decided they don't want to play in this strange weather. The blue poppy is very fickle under the best growing conditions and our display this year is meager. We'll try again next year and see what happens. They are magnificent flowers and worth the wait.

Marie Reed said...

I just love that you put this all in slideshow form!

Candy said...

Never seen one before...WOW!
Wonder if they would grown here in Texas?

I'll check into it,
Candy

jeanne said...

Good morning Mary, Your poppies are amazing in blue. The slides are very good and really show that deep blue color. Thank you for the little history too.

Hugs...Jeanne

Becky K. said...

I did not know there were blue poppies. Wow! They are gorgeous!

Can you just imagine them complimented by Blue Iris? What a stunning garden that would be.
Not that these need anything...

Heather S-G said...

These are just gorgeous.

Unknown said...

Just lovely, great pictures.

SmilingSally said...

You've taught me something. Thanks for sharing. Happy Blue Monday.

BTW: If you comment on my comment, I'll never see it. Why not hit reply and email me your response?

Barb said...

Oh so lovely!!

Happy Blue Monday.

Barb

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Hi Mary,
What an intense and gorgeous blue are those poppies! They are wonderful. I've never seen blue poppies before either. Thank you for sharing and I enjoyed your little story too. Have a wonderful Blue Monday.

Blessings,
Sandi

chow and chatter said...

beautiful i remember my great aunt in Glasgow had few I was amazed by them then and now, enjoy

Knitty said...

What a gorgeous flower! I've never seen them before. Your grandsons are quite gorgeous too, although they may prefer the term handsome.

Becky said...

Never heard or seen blue poppies...thanks for the education...I'm a new fan!!!
Becky

Anonymous said...

Absolutely beautiful photos! I have never seen a blue poppy either. Happy Blue Monday ♥

Anonymous said...

An amazing find! I have never seen such a pretty blue in a poppy! Makes me want to discover more about it.

Kathy b

Unknown said...

Pretty blue poppy!!

Happy Blue Monday!

Joyce said...

My first time viewing one of these little rare finds:) Lovely.
Joyce

pam said...

Beautiful...I've never seen these but must go in search of them now.

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Who Knew? Blue poppies...I had no idea. Kind of like the blue rose of the impossible from Beauty and the Beast. I would have doubted its existence myself had you not showed me. Happy blue Monday.

Judi said...

I LOVE cabbage and welcome new recipes. This looks absolutely delish and I will absolutely give it a try!
thank you for sharing...and stopping by..
Judi

ellen b. said...

Oh these are so beautiful!! I love them...Happy Blue to you.

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

gorgeous blue poppy! I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day! Happy Blue Monday ~ Susan

Missy Wertz said...

What a beautiful blue flower. Happy Blue Monday!

Terry said...

Happy Blue Monday ,wow I have never seen or even heard of this blue treasure.Its soooo blue I love it !!!!!
Thank you for sharing this today .I really enjoyed your post and your music hit the spot.
I am still simply in awe of this brilliant blue poppy photo.
Blessings to you.

NatureFootstep Bildverkstan said...

Hi Mary, thanks for the compliments to my image. The flower you show us is likely to be the one we call Vallmo, but I have never seen a blue one. It is very beautiful. :)

Karen said...

Beautiful flowers... poppies are my favorite. I can imagine a garden full of the blue ones and bright orange... gorgeous!

KayC. said...

Great poppies...I have never seen blue ones. They sure are pretty!

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

Absolutely gorgeous!

Lori said...

I would be lobbying for the Himalayas too!

Those flowers are drop dead gourgeous!

Isn't it funny how fate always shows you when you are wrong. It's the funniest, "uncanny-ess" thing. I have learned after 43 years to never say the words, "I would never..." 'Cause then I do.

joyh82 said...

Beautiful pictures and flowers. Love how it is animated.

noble pig said...

I hope you get there some day and the flower is beautiful Mary!

fitty's pinky rose cottage said...

happy blue monday! love the photos! so beautifully captured! have a great day!

Wandering Chopsticks said...

Oh that's gorgeous! The bluest I've come across are delphiniums.

g.suzie said...

Stunning, I am so excited to see your pictures, last year we to visited Buchart Gardens and I came home with blue Poppy seeds. . .How long after planting did it take to actually see blooms??? And thank-you for stopping by today!!!This is so fun, I just can't wait to see all the amazing 'show & tell'
pictures.

Mary Bergfeld said...

g.suzie, it takes about 2 years. This site will give you the information you need http://www.coastbotanicalgarden.org/article_blue_poppies.shtml
Do remember, these can be very fickle plants. They're worth waiting for however.

Fifi Flowers said...

LOVE those BLUE flowers!

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