We enjoyed her well. She began gently, unfurled slowly and built to a crescendo before the heatwave got to her a week or so ago, when she gasped for breath and entered a momentary state of ugliness! Now that these intoxicating days of heat followed by generous thunderstorms with rain (it isn’t always the case!) are with us, the urge to cut back, deadhead, and save seed between each downpour are our driving force. We need to rid the garden of spent flowers and foliage that has had its glory day, in order that it can begin the growth cycle all over again.
It was amidst a moment’s dithering & hesitation that I decided to collect the poppy heads! They were spectacular, each capped by a pixie hat or Chinese pagoda roof (I can’t ever decide which they most remind me of) held high above their neighbours. But I couldn’t risk another drenching from the skies above and so I set out with my scissors to snip off their heads! I think they are the most exquisite beauties and I seem to have collected literally hundreds!
Those who were here during our busy series of spring events enjoyed their delicate petals dancing in the breeze, but these magical pods contain the bounty of seed for next year’s garden. They’re heading for a very large brown paper bag, where they can spill their seed to their heart’s content….captured, saved, stored.