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Earlier today I purchased some beautiful Papaver Orientale or as
they say in China:
   
Dong fang ying su.
This
year I wanted to plant a variety of Perennials - they're a little more
expensive than the 'common and garden' Petunias and Marigolds - but I
really did want something different. I also purchased a Campanula (Persicifolia
alba), a Erysimum (Golden Gem) an Aster (novi-belgi) - Little
Pink Beauty, a Heuchera (pulchella) and a Lupus - there was a
warning about eating this one so I'd better report on the poisonous
properties of the Lupus.
I was
surprised to find out that the Papaver was actualy a Poppy and I must admit
that if I had looked a little more closely at the illustration on the
packaging I would have recognised it right away. I suppose I bought it
because of some subliminal message deep in my mind told me I had always
liked this plant - its one of my favourites.
Anyway, they cost £1.00 each in Knotty Ash and I bought four of them - I
also don't want to overpower the floral display with more than a few of
each plant - which also helps the budget somewhat - and if I can remember
at the end of the year that these plants come back every year - its a good
investment. The variety of Papaver I purchased is a hardy and reliable
perennial that provides a brilliant display of scarlet red blooms with dark
centres in summer.
It
grows to a height of approximately 60 to 90 cm (2-3 ft) and loves the sun.
However, on the plus side it will survive in the poorest of dry soils. They
need to be planted about 60cm (2 ft) apart; this suited my back plot great,
because there is only about 500 cm (8 ft) of space where they are to go.
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