ORIENTAL POPPIES

Evening Star, Issue 21820, 8 September 1934, Page 23

ORIENTAL POPPIES

Oriental poppies are among the plants that may be lifted and divided at present. It gives them a better chance to get settled and to bloom m the early summer. During November and December, these large, showy poppies form one of the brightest features of our gardens (says the ‘ Manawatu Daily Times ’)• The old, scarlet type has for years been well known, but with the introduction of various other shades, this family of plants has conio more into favour, in shades of pink, there js a' variation from pale shell to deepest salmon, while the deep crimson and wine shades are very handsome. Scarlet and orange shades there are in abundance, all with beautiful black antlers and embossed . centres, some with dark blotches on the petals, and some clear to the centre. One white variety is blotched with blackish crimson, while a new double orange will prove very popular, as it becomes better known. Oriental poppies possess that clearness of colouring so essential where a fine display is needed, and are also very handy border plants. They are most useful for grouping in the foreground of shrubberies. The only fault one can find with,them is thsir untidiness during the summer, but this difficulty may be overcome by planting roots of perennial gypsophila here and there among them, or it the soil does not suit these, the next best is a few roots of the low-growing charm dahlias. In common with other members of the poppy family when using for cut flowers, gather just as the buds are bursting, bruise the ends of the stems, which are very hard, and then either burn them in the fire for a few seconds, or place in boiling water. Gathered in this way, they will last fully a week before dropping. The pink shades especially, arc delightful lor vases, and if mixed with solatium evispium, the effect is charming.