Poppies and their Partners

In spring I scattered poppy seeds in various bare patches to fill in the beds while I went about selecting more permanent plants. They have come up in a variety of doubles and singles, all of them attractive.

Although I didn't plan it that way, all the poppies sown among my scarlet peonies that flowered last month are also red.

Not far away, another group has all opened baby pink.

And there are also some lovely dark raspberry singles.

I get contrasting colour from low-growing Geranium 'Rozanne' next to the red poppies,

...and am just waiting for two pale yellow partners to open: Anthemis 'Sauce Hollandaise' and a species hollyhock.



Meanwhile on the fence Schizophragma hydrangeoides continues to impress me with the colour of its leaves.

Another impressive sight is a single Allium giganteum as tall as I am. The bulbs are rather expensive, but I think I'll have to indulge in a few more to accompany this one next year.

Beyond the flower garden, the vegetable plots are filling up.

 

In the foreground arugula is already flowering, but we're leaving it so that we can collect some seed for another crop. Soon we will have peas and beans climbing that back fence and screening the unattractive lane behind.