I kept this Iceland Poppy on my drawing table for three days and watched it blossom. Of course, I had to document this experience in my garden journal . . .
This page is done with watercolor and very fine marker in a Stillman & Birn Beta sketchbook.
I did the sketches from life, but as always, I took photos at each stage of this little miracle to work from should I need to zoom in for a bug’s eye view. My iPad is great for this and is always at hand when I am working from a live subject.
I thought sharing the series of photos would bring some sunshine to your Sunday. . .
When I brought the plant home, one bud was already thinking about cracking open.
Here is the photo I posted already, which shows how it looked the next day . . .
24 hours later, we had this . . .
And another 24 hours brought full blossom . . .
How gorgeous is that?!
I did a little research and found that this perennial can be grown in a large container. Time will tell.
By the time I was ready to transplant, another beauty had arrived. I found out the hard way that some critter out there loves to munch the furry buds, so now I keep a wire basket over the planter at night.
Do any of you grow this type Poppy in your garden? Got any advice?
All Images ©2015, Jessica Wesolek
Very exciting to watch the poppy … but more excited to hear/read/enjoy you getting back to your creative self …. good sign ! You made my day !!
Hi Jessica,
Here in central NY State, the Icelandic Poppies (and poppies in general) grow in our gardens very well. I’ve never had to protect them from any nibblers though. Squirrels are notorious for nibbling, devouring actually, bulbs of every kind here! Maybe they are your culprits too? I wish you good luck in finding the bandits, quickly!
My garden in the UK is full of them at the moment. I don’t do anything with them and they self seed all over the place…. I love them. 🙂
I live in Canada and have always had Iceland popies in my garden. They will self seed all over the place, but not hard to get rid off if necessary. My pots and borders are full of them. I love them, because they are such bright spots of colour very early in the spring.
Sorry – I meant “poppies” not “popies”!!!
After they finish flowering, does the plant stay green or does the foliage die off? Anybody know?
Foliage stays green. You have the option of cutting the flower stem off or leaving it to mature and spread seeds. There is a variety called Champagne Bubbles which has lovely muted colours, sometimes even a beige. The seedlings will eventually regress to the original yellow and orange. This perennial is really not that long lived, only about 3 or 4 years, but really easy to grow from seed. This has been my experience.