The wait is finally over...

[leene_chan]

Papaver Orientale "Princess Victoria Louise.", a photo by Leenechan on Flickr.

"Princess Victoria Louise" finally popped a flower this morning!

We planted three of her last spring, but unfortunately the plants only reached blooming size this year. And let me tell you, this particular plant is enormous, with at least four more buds to open in the next few weeks!

This really is a milestone for us. We have never in our decade of gardening been able to successfully grow oriental poppies in our yard. I guess there's only one spot that's suitable for them--the little south-facing garden that's also home to butterfly bushes Ellen's Blue and Peach Cobbler, peony Louis von Houtte, Buck roses Prairie Harvest and Winter Sunset, and irises Coral Sunset and Oh, Jamaica. To think that two years ago, that garden was nothing but oregano and rogue strawberry runners!

I feel like I should put on a party hat or something. XD

Comments

[gothiclibrarian.livejournal.com]

I have never had much luck with them either...I had 2 'Royal Wedding' at the old house...I tried to transplant 1 to the new last year and it decided to die.

They're such sprawling plants I am going to wait a few years til everything fills in more, then see if there's some place to tuck a few in.

[leene-chan.livejournal.com]

I think that they are the most difficult plants I've dealt with. Apparently you have to plant them when they're very small, and the only place I found that sold them at the proper size was Select Seeds. I think I've gone through four or five poppies before I had success, and I wonder if there's just something special about the place I put them. The soil is very dry and crumbly, with a pH of about 6.0.

I really like "Royal Wedding" and the other white oriental poppies. There's a particular cultivar called "Louvre" that I find gorgeous, but really, I didn't realize the plants got so big!