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Friday, October 8, 2010

Life's full of Surprises!


These beauties were planted last May, papaveri from Italy, poppies of rich-red splendor.  All spring plantings, in the Northwest weather of 2010 became molded or eaten by slugs. My garden was planted three times with vegetable starters and seedlings.  Even then, I have very little to show for all that money and work.

When I saw these Italian seeds on the rack at 101 Nursery,  I took them home with hope.  I chose an elevated spot next to a struggling fig tree.  I know, what is this obsession with Mediterranean fruit and flowers?  I know, I can't resist  lemon, orange, fig and persimmon trees, even if   70 degrees is our hot spell.

 I'm hopeful!

The lemon trees developed scabby infections, were treated and re-treated, but I still lost two of them.  The fig trees are barely showing signs of life. The persimmons have died once, and have resurrected from their roots, showing promise.

These beauties, however, these stunning Poppies remind me of the wheat fields back home in Italy, where hundreds of them appear year after year among the golden heads of wheat, swaying with the wind, pulling your eyes to the fields.

I'm glad these beauties are mine for now.

32 comments:

Grandmother Mary said...

The poppies were spectacular this year and the figs, warm off the trees- surely a taste of heaven! We're harvesting grapes right now and the olives the end of this month. A verdant land.

Brian Miller said...

those truly are beautiful...best of hope for them...

Ann Best said...

They're beautiful!

A response: Sounds like we should go to Italy! Figs and persimmons: words that roll off the tongue. Delicious!!
Ann

Hope said...

nature never seizes to amaze me. I'm glad for you. Poppies are so pretty

thank you for sharing
take care
Hope

Hope said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Terra said...

I love that you are tenacious in your desire for these Mediterranean trees and flowers. The poppies are pretty. I am the same, sometimes wanting a plant that is not suited, which is why I bought a tiny gardenia bush this summer.

Dimple said...

Beautiful poppies! I have some, I think they are oriental, that come back and bloom every year here in Idaho. I hope yours are as faithful!

Arkansas Patti said...

Success will never spoil you. How wonderful your poppies did not let you down.
They like what you have given them.

Karen said...

Those are gorgeous! Love the colors.

xxx said...

I too would be excited to see these beauties.... I completely understand your love for them.

x Robyn

karen said...

Oh they are BEAUTIFUL! And Italian, too - just perfect!

Wander to the Wayside said...

Your summer sounds like ours, except ours was too hot and dry, and everything just withered on the vine. Poppies don't do well here, so I'm envious that you got at least a few! It's funny how we keep on trying when we know our climate isn't right for some plants.

the walking man said...

Being glad now is all there is. Everything else is a regret or a wish.

ellen abbott said...

I love the poppies! I planted poppies every year for a time. And I plan to spread the seeds this year.

mermaid gallery said...

I have lots of those very same poppies...don' worry, they come back like weeds every year....

Amanda Summer said...

rosaria - how lovely that you are able to enjoy this taste of italy and your childhood in your backyard!

Vagabonde said...

I love poppies but here in Georgia it is too hot for them. My fig tree had a good crop this year, enough to make jam 3 times, but it hard to cultivate flowers as we have no sun, too many pine trees. Your flowers are very pretty.

Se'lah said...

we used to celebrate "poppy day" when i was a little girl. these are beautiful.

hope you are having a wonderful weekend. one love

Cloudia said...

And you share them with US!


thanks, Dear




Warm Aloha from Waikiki

Comfort Spiral

rjerdee said...

Congratulations, Rosaria, for growing poppies in your area! Uncommon, to say the least!!! Enjoy them, my dear, while they last...

Nancy said...

I'm having the same problem with my indoor lemon tree. I'm off to find something to kill the bugs tomorrow. Little white cocoons... I just hate pesticides. The poppies are lovely - and obviously hardy.

Jo said...

Those are my favorite flowers. They're wonderul...!

Anonymous said...

The poppies are lovely. Thanks for stopping by and for making me smile

Kathryn Magendie said...

I LOVE poppies....so beautiful.....

Deb Shucka said...

Thank you for visiting my teaching blog. I'm so happy to find you here and will be back for more. What lovely flowers - and I love the emotional connection you feel to them.

Maggie May said...

Poppies are really lovely. At the moment we have Iceland poppies in our garden. They do tend to spread.
Maggie X

Nuts in May

RNSANE said...

Rosaria, it's nice to see these red poppies ( looks like they are quite hardy ). I'm used to seeing, mainly, our CA golden ones. It's so foggy in my area, little grows really well.

Rachel Cotterill said...

Those are gorgeous - and in October, too!

Unknown said...

I love poppies but have never had a green thumb where they're concerned. Maybe it's the area where I live, that it doesn't get cold enough for long enough in the winter. Yours are just beautiful!

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

They are lovely. I can understand that they remind you of Italy7 - they are everywhere here.

Dawn said...

Love the color of those!
Sounds like you have quite the selection of plants/trees growing near you! Very lucky!

Relyn Lawson said...

Poppies!! Oh, I LOVE poppies!