In May the fence that surrounds our front garden turns into "the poppy fence". Usually poppies are growing on both sides of the fence or pushing their heads through the pickets - both "regular" poppies and California poppies.
I had an abundance of re-seeded poppies coming up this spring, so many, indeed, that I had to pull quite a lot of them because I was afraid that they would smother the other flowers. I had to repeatedly do that until I had "islands" of poppies and I thought it would look lovely.
Then the deer came.
Usually, deer don't eat poppies. Every spring they would come into my garden and nibble on the poppies only to never do it again. This year, however, was different. They came back over and over again and filled their bellies with my poppies. The lovely islands were reduced to headless green stumps and some of them were trampled down.
Instead of an abundance of colorful poppies I was afraid not to have any at all. I shouldn't have worried. Poppies are tough little guys. As you can see from my pictures, quite a lot made it - but I certainly didn't have the "Monet painting" I had last year (one of my neighbors called it that way).
I also noticed that the deer didn't eat the breadseed poppies - they are the most beautiful and stunning ones:
These are the ones that I will definitely let reseed again. I'm always happy when I find a plant that the deer don't like. They also don't like scented plants like lavender and salvia of which I have quite a few in the front.
Right next to the gate I had a wonderful bunch of red poppies that made me happy whenever they caught my eye.
This year is the first year that I have matilija poppies - some people call them "fried egg poppies". Their white petals lend a certain glow to the garden.
And no, the deer don't like them either.
I'm linking up to Theresa's "Good Fences" again.
16 comments:
How absolutely beautiful.
I have a stunning double poppy which comes up year after year. Each time it does I think of you and your garden.
Gorgeous! What a lovely garden. Poppies bring a smile to my face.
As a California native, for most of my life California poppies were the only kind I knew. I had seen those little paper red ones on Veterans Day, but couldn't imagine them in real life. When I visited England a few years ago and saw them growing wild alongside fields and country lanes, I was astonished. It felt like something from a fairy tale had come to life. That feeling of delight comes back to me whenever I see those glorious red flowers. People do grow them around here, but I haven't seen any display as bountiful and beautiful as yours!
I love your idea of a poppy fence. I think it might work in a difficult area of my garden, which borders a hawthorn hedge which has been overcome with wild ivy. The roots of these fill the back border of our garden, making planting difficult.
they're just beautiful. truly.
Your poppies and fencing are just beautiful. Such lovely photos of them.
They are stunning! I love to see the pops of red in wheat fields and in the garden but to have a sea of them by your fence is such a good idea (and well done on fooling the deer).
WOW, what a splash of color!
I like poppies a lot and you have some beautiful ones. Sorry the deer thought they were lunch. The white ones and a nice spark to the garden but the big red ones are my favorite.
so lovely to see your flowers. sorry about the deer. I have one plant that is showing it's buds but have not bloomed yet. One year the deer at them too. I should go put a metal cage around them, thank you for reminding me. Love the matilija poppies, i use to live where they grow, so beautiful.
These a so lovely. What a wonderful array. I love the dark pink one. You are so lucky that they reseed so spectacularly for you.
Carola, I'm sighing at your blooming poppies. Nothing is blooming yet in my garden, but I threw out a lot of different varieties of poppy seed last fall. I'm hoping for a good show. I love the red and that breadseed variety is just gorgeous! Happy gardening - have a good summer.
Truly gorgeous! WOW!!!!
Hello Carola, this post filled me with happiness. Your poppies look so cheerful and your photos of them are wonderful.
Have a lovely weekend!
I love the poppies at this time of the year too. Sorry about the deer eating so many, but we know the poppies will return. The red poppies remind me of Italy, ahhh. We have lots of traditional California poppies growing all over our back yard, and I have to prune to keep them from taking over.
Dear Carola, such a magnificent display of poppies. I didn't know they were so prolific or that the deer enjoy them so much. A friend once told me they loved her tulips. Thank you for sharing these. They are a treat for the eyes.
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