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Himalayan Blue Poppy — 52 Comments

  1. Oh that’s even better! But I never had an aunt named Fanny. Still somehow “Bobs yer uncle and La Verne’s yer aunt” isn’t quite as fun, so I’ll say it your way.

  2. Alistair-

    I am in envy of your blue poppies. Poppies are not the easiest to grow in my climate zone. Much too humid and hot. I so want to grow them though and your photos have inspired me. Your round garden is absolutely lovely— so lush and vibrant. I always enjoy visiting your blog….Brenda

  3. Hi Catharine, Crathes Castle Gardens are always worth a visit, travel on the North Deeside road going west from aberdeen I think its only about eight miles from Aberdeen. Also Kildrummy Castle gardens near Alford are very special.

  4. Dear Alistair – aha the holey grail of plants. Alistair I am coming up to Aberdeenshire and the Black Isle next week. Can you recommend me some gardens to visit PLEASE? Thank you Catharine

  5. Rosie, I think Larry was being very generous. The Meconopsis do grow very well in our Aberdeen garden and they would look so much better if I were to create a larger space for them to have more impact. Will be having a look very soon to see what’s going on in your Perthshire garden.

  6. ah it’s your post that Larry was referring to Alistair! I have grown these from seed in one of my previous gardens though I’ve never done so in this garden as I was always afraid that a stray football might knock them down as they are so tall. I’ve got a spot now that they could go into but need to get some organic manure dug in around the soil to give them a good start. I never let them flower the first year Alistair and they were very hungry feeders with me. Your garden looks lovely with that kingfisher blue colour – isn’t it just a pity that they don’t flower longer. I’ve posted loads of photos of these blue poppies in the past few days on my blog as Branklyn hold the national collection and I’ve more photos to share by next weekend with different coloured ones too.

  7. Hi Alistair – congrats on the Lingholm; it looks wonderful & is obviously happy. Unless you want to save the seed, I’d cut out the flowering stem once the poppy is over – encourages the new shoots. The Scottish climate is good for the blue poppy, but not all our soil types suit it, I find. That said, shade and damp are the two most important things to provide…
    Remind me to send you some Slieve Donard in the Autumn.

  8. That blue on that poppy is gorgeous. I have had no luck growing poppies, but I perhaps I will try again. Your garden appears so lush and full of life. A joy, I am sure, to behold.

  9. Your garden is breathtaking just about any time of the year, but June really is special. I love your blue poppy but unfortunately must admire it from afar.

  10. Hi Alistair, I’m very jealous of your blue poppies, I want to grow them too, but I don’t think the climate down here would suit it (though it might this year with the miserable weather we’ve been having). Your garden is looking incredible and so green and lush. I’m beginning to loose control of mine as plants start to go wild and escape the borders.

  11. Hi Alberto, too early in the season for the garden to be at its peek in Scotland but everything is looking lush with foliage. I also enjoy my blog visits and am left stunned at what others achieve.

  12. Wow, everything looks so good! The garden must be at its peak now, summer has arrived there as well!
    Blue poppies are something that, every year when I see them flowering trough other’s people blogs, always leave me mouth open. There’s some magic in that blue, something you get lost into.

  13. b-a-g, I think I could comfortably fit some red poppies into my scheme. Its true enough, even with the lawn trimmed it never looks right until the edges have been tidied up.

  14. Thanks Linnie, the weather has been particularly good this last three weeks or so. I wonder if you have killed as many blue poppies as I have with the Magnolias. If you are feeling totally euphoric about something the full expression is (Bobs yer uncle and Fannys yer Aunt.)

  15. Wow it’s all like a dream garden Alistair! I hope your weather is allowing for lots of time outside to enjoy. I’ve never seen a blue poppy blooming in a garden here, but I never miss an opportunity to buy one at a nursery and take it home and kill it. Actually it’s been a few years since the last such death so I might be ready to regroup–you and Kininvie are such inspiration.

    I loved ‘Bob’s yer uncle’– an expression that is completely new to me. And I actually used to have an uncle named Bob. I never associated him with things going particularly well, but he will certainly help me remember the saying.

  16. Your blue poppies are stunners compared to my common red ones. Your post reminded me it’s really worth the effort to edge a lawn – yes, the round garden looks wonderful.

  17. Thank you Jennifer, I guess its all relative, I mean I used to think my pictures were quite good until I got into the habit of reading other blogs, then I tried harder, although editing plays a big part. Our back garden consists of five separate gardens and gives reasonable scope for plants, although we never seem to have enough room.

  18. I don’t know if I have remarked on this before Alastair, but I find that there has been a huge improvement in the quality of photography from the early days of my visits to your blog. You have become quite handy with a camera and your pictures are really nicely done.
    Your garden is looking as nice as ever. I am always amazed at how much you have packed into a small space and how tidy it still manages to look.
    I think I may give blue poppies a try. I have a fair bit of woodland and maybe they might do well.

  19. I agree, everyone seeing a blue poppy would be taken with this plant. Your round garden is lovely in June, very lush and elegant too.

  20. yes, you’ve read both my posts. But for the June plant meme, I would appreciate the ‘link love’ within your post. That’s if you are joining my meme?

  21. Rick, the meconopsis cambrica of course found its own way into our garden, Myry loves them. Unknown to her I do keep them in check or we would be overrun. Myra doesn’t know that I do this, (well she will do now)

  22. Donna, when I see a flowering plant such as the blue meconopsis my first thought would normally have been that they would prefer a warmer climate than ours. Strangely they seem to embrace dreich weather. (well its not like that all the time)

  23. Alistair, your round garden looks lovely!
    I have been thinking of planting Meconopsis, didn’t realise that they perhaps would not like the London climate, but the cold weather we have had the last few years would probably be ideal anyway then? I am hunting for tall plants with a small footprint, from photos I have seen, Meconopsis would fit into that category? How long do they flower in your garden? I have a semi shady spot with acid, rich soil that doesn’t dry out and when I redesign this bed in the autumn I will have room for quite a lot of new plants.

  24. I think you are right..that round garden is fabulous and your pictures make it snap…I have always admired blue poppies but don’t think they would like my climate or soil…but I do love where you planted yours.

  25. Great pictures as always Alistair. Whether or not you take of the flower buds in the first year to encourage sturdier plants seems to be debatable and I think stems from the fact that many species of Meconopsis are monocarpic, I leave most of my seed-heads on but I do grow some from seed every year as replacements for the inevitable losses usually associated with winter damp. It is great to see you use Meconopsis cambrica and what looks like Alchemilla (I may be wrong), so many people look down on them and yet they are both so good if kept in check. They are particularly useful for those shadier positions where the soil is not too good.

  26. your poppies are beautiful Alistair, I checked out the nursery but it’s yet another nursery that only delivers to the mainland,
    I like your round garden it looks nice and inviting, a sort of private hidden garden, Frances

  27. Alistair, what a lovely section of your garden you’ve shown us here. It is filled with some lovely plants. That splash of Orange is certainly eyecatching!
    Best not forget to mention your mecs. I’ve read the advice of not letting them flower in the first year – but I just don’t have the patience to do that! I’m trying a white flowering one in this garden for the first time. I used to be successful with them in a previous garden. Yours are gorgeous and I agree, never heard anyone say they don’t like them or covet them for that matter!

  28. Much of the gardening world stands in awe, as we salivate over your ability to grow this, the holy grail of the plant kingdom… Larry

  29. Its so beautiful Alistair .

    We have them growing up in the walled garden restoration project at Glamis Castle.

    I am a volunteer there on Tue and Thurs with my friend we started in Feb of this year and been just us 2 but now this week we have a 3rd volunteer come join us.

    If you are ever in the area pop up to see us in our playground microclimate.

  30. Alistair your blue poppies are stunning.

    We have them growing in the walled garden restoration project at Glamis Castle where Iam a volunteer.

    If you are ever in the area do pop up to see us .

    We the 2 volunteers are there Tue and Thursdays since Feb .

    Our 3rd volunteer joined our team this past week.

    Its a real micro climate.

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