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A Splash of Red/Orange

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Since I was away from my garden during the months of April, May, and June, I missed the best of the garden bloom period. Yes, there are things blooming now, like my coneflowers, roses and heavenly smelling phlox – but like any garden, mine is at its best around May and June. You remember that I’ve been gone the entire spring for 2 years in row?

One day I was on the computer upstairs – the one my husband uses – and I saw a photo of a red/orange poppy. Where did this come from, I wondered? From your garden, says husband. What????


There it is. You know, I see the leaves coming out of the ground in early spring…but I thought it was one of those plants that just never would bloom for me. By the time I got home, the leaves had died. I’ll include a somewhat blurry photo (but thank you, husband, for taking it!):


I’m keeping it small in size so the blurriness doesn’t overwhelm you. I’m thrilled that the Oriental Poppy finally bloomed. More reason to stick around next spring. Right now, the heat is so relentless that my garden is looking sad, indeed.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Comments

  1. Awww what a nice and thoughtful hubby! Mine is nice, but I an completely positive he would never think to take a picture of my garden for me!

  2. What a great surprise! I have so many that sometimes it’s a sea of orange. Love this type, you can take the head off after the bloom dies and use it as a salt shaker to spread the seeds!

    Leann

  3. So pretty! I usually plant Shirley Poppies– you would love them. They bloom in soft pretty pinks & white. They re-seed themselves every year and when they start coming up they look like weeds, but if you just hang in there with them their blooms are so beautiful!
    Don was so sweet to take a photo for you– cute how you knew immediately that it was something new to your garden.
    Hugs,
    Jill

  4. Hi Claudia,
    I have given up on my garden. It is just too hot to survive. The only thing that is thriving are the crepe myrtles.

    I think it’s very sweet that your husband took some photos of the garden for you.

    hugs
    Sissie

  5. happy to visit today…don’t you love garden surprises..they are the BEST !!!

    my garden is starting to look pretty sad…seems like right after the 4th of july it starts to slip away…but you know what that means…Fall

    have a lovely july weekend

    kary and teddy
    xxx

  6. What a pretty Poppy, Claudia. I’ve had something orange that’s popped up my yard too, have no idea what kind of flower it is at all. I love Oriental Poppies with their paper like petals. It is so hot here too, don’t push it and take it easy (note to self ;)
    Bet Riley and Scout are so, so, so happy you’re home. I love your dogs even though I’ve never met them, can you tell?
    xo~Tracie

  8. Those poppies look so pretty, so fragile and yet they are really so tenacious, how wonderful to have one of your own. Suits you ;)

  11. hi claudia,

    in this heat, many gardens are looking a little sad. i know mine is! i am just not a heatwave + bugs kind of gal. maybe someday?

    xo
    elyse

  12. Claudia, I’m so glad you are home again and able to enjoy the second half of your garden’s growing season.
    The poppy is beautiful and I’m sure you will enjoy a whole mass of them next year!

  14. Summer heat is what made me choose mountain living. Temps almost reached the 80s yesterday – I’m sure it hit the 100s in Denver.
    Your hubby was a sweetie to take the pics of the poppies. Like you, I love garden surprises! :)
    Happy weekend, Claudia!
    Zuzu

  16. Yes, same here. Relentless heat. I can’t even go out in the mornings to take photos. Most of the day I go out and the camera immediately fogs up and takes blurry photos. You have to be home next spring to enjoy that garden!
    Brenda

  18. Hi Claudia,
    Beautiful garden! The orange of the poppy really pops against the blue/purple of the other flowers…lovely!
    It’s supposed to be 106 degrees here today and tomorrow. My plants are NOT happy (neither
    am I)!
    Enjoy your weekend,
    Hugs ~ Jo :)

  19. Thanks to our unusually cool summer here in the PNW, things in the garden are still going strong. Except the tomatoes…

    Your husband sounds like a sweetie to have captured that for you. Have a great weekend :-) -amy

  21. Beautiful poppy, such a luscious red color. Your husband is really sweet, photographing that one flower for you!
    We are getting some much needed rain today, I think my roses are actually singing : )
    Hugs,
    And happy weekend,
    Terri

  23. don’t you LOVE living in apple country????
    and YES!!!! taking Teddy is one of our most FAVORITE things to do….

    he just got his first BIG BOY puppy clip…so cute..

    i’ll get pictures and post soon

    have a great weekend, my sweet friend

    kary and teddy
    xxx

  24. WHAT A LOVELY POPPY, ISN’T THAT SOMETHING….JUST ONE.
    OUR WEATHER IS SO HOT AND HUMID TOO. I HOPE WE GET A BREAK SOON. THAT WAS SO NICE OF ANNMARIE TO SEND YOU ALL THE LOVELY THREADS. LILY DID BEAUTIFUL WORK.
    I WAS A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN ANNMARIE WAS BORN, I HELPED LILY TAKE CARE OF HER, AND I WAS THERE EVERY WEEKEND, SHE IS A SWEETHEART.
    RIZZI

  25. You have the sweetest hubby!! What a precious memory he saved for you…and it was such a pleasant surprise, too! I hope you’re home next Spring!!

    L, Dana

  26. Oh, Claudia, my garden is in a pitiful state with all this heat and lack of water. Even the perennials, that don’t need watering, are suffering. Well the brilliant red-orange of that poppy is sure to attract some hummers flying overhead to your garden.

    Glad you enjoyed my dad and the chipmunk post. We all so enjoy our little garden friends! Can’t wait till the weather gets better so dad can get back out to the deck. It’s just too hot out there for him now… Donna

  27. What a sweet poppy..it looks like it’s peeking around the corner at you.lol
    It’s hot and wilty here too. Only, what, a month before things cool off? How do we do this every summer.lol

    Have a wonderful evening,
    Lynea

  29. HAPPY PINK SATURDAY CLAUDIA,
    I LOVE YOUR BEAUTIFUL POPPY.
    I TRIED SEVERAL BLOGGERS EARLY THIS MORNING AND I WAS HAVING A TERRIBLE TIME GETTING IN TO LEAVE A MESSAGE.
    I AM ANXIOUS TO SEE WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR TABLE.
    HUGS
    SIMPLY DEBBIE

  30. Hi Claudia,

    How pretty…I’m throwing some faerie dust over it so it can’t blur. :0) ♥

    I love poppies and really had no idea how many different ones there are until I spied one of the Heirloom varieties on a Flickr album..did you see my post for that? My goodness it’s a divine sweet thing.

    I do hope you can be home for next spring to truly enjoy and play in your garden.

    Any yes….we DO need a little magic in our lives…our imaginations can keep us young and safeguard us against these scary times in this dreadful economy. Somethings gotta give!! Things have really gone way beyond ridiculous.

    Have a wonderful day and stay as cool as possible.

    Love and Hugs,
    Stephanie ♥

  31. I don’t think my husband, as sweet as he is, would ever think to take photos of flowers because I was not home when they bloomed! You have a gem.

  32. Hi Claudia,
    How wonderful to find the pic of your very own garden Poppy taken by your hubby. I do not have them in my garden, but my grandma grew them beautifully.
    However, I did get a print in Santa Fe of the wonderful Poppy painting by Georgia O’Keffe. It hangs above our fireplace and inspires everyday.

    Thank you for sharing your Poppy. It brought back such wonderful memories of my grandmas garden.

    Hope you are enjoying the weekend.
    Very HOT here. 102 today!!

    Hugs, Celestina Marie

  33. I have some of these in the back yard They are beautiful, but not really a good flower to pick and bring inside, the make a HUGE black mess after a few days! Enjoy your poppy!

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