For gorgeous display few flowers can compete with the Poppy family. The genus being a large one, gardeners are assured of a continuous care.

Prickly poppy (Argemone) with the spiny, white-ribbed foliage is rightly named, but the white and yellow flowers combined with a long blooming season makes this a much desired plant for mid-summer gardens.

If you are an intrepid gardener try sowing seed of the tulip or San to Barbara (Hunnenumnia) poppy during the fall. They are drought resistant and enjoy full sun. The semi-double lemon beauty and Sunlite are especially nice.

Alpine poppy (Alpinum) may be used either in rock gardens or as an edging plant, as they only reach 6″ in height, the multicolored flowers including a lovely fringed one, come early,and stay late, same as the Celandine group. Myriads of small, soft, silky yellow flowers, borne in clusters remind one of butterflies on wing. Reseeding, they produce the second blooming period of the fall.

Another poppy seldom seen in gardens here, but a worthwhile perennial is the Pilosum, fine for the herbaceous border, growing 18″ high, bearing flowers in a delightful shade of apricot-orange.

Having once seen a planting of snow-poppy (Eomenecon Chionantha) created a deep desire for just one of my own. The plant reaches a height of 12″, the white flowers are borne in clusters, the foliage is pale green, heart-shaped.

Iceland poppies are a “must-have.” A true perennial it will bloom the first season. The deep tangerine color with broad over-lapping fluted petals-creates a charming effect. Sown in August or September seed of Iceland poppy are not likely to germinate well, but sown in October they will come along slowly but surely.

If the horned (Glaucium) poppy produced nothing but the silvery foliage I would still grow it; but Glauciura Flavum is a prodigious flowering sort, the soft, yellow flowers blending nicely with other flowers. The, flambarant red sister good with bold color groupings.

Tibitan poppy (Meconopsia Bailey) though rather difficult to grow in some localities challenges the skill of any gardener.

The intense sky-blue flowers are beauties, demands shade and well drained soil. I lost a valuable planting by allowing seed to mature so with this plant one can’t have their cake and eat it to. The other blue (Wallachli) native of the Himalayas as is also perennial but much easier to grow.

Poppy Mallon (Callirrhoe invaluerata) some times referred to as “wine cups” is a decorative plant when in bloom, once established is permanent. They enjoy full sun and poor soil, Their long, penetrating tuberous roots make them suitable for dry locations.