Enjoy Poppies in a Variety of Settings

These pictures of poppies are a favorite of flower lovers everywhere. I never knew these flowers came in such a multitude of colors and styles. Feel free to download and share the images you find on this site. All I ask is that you link back to me. Tell your friends where you found the best selection of flower pictures around including information and stories of inspiration.

When you think of Poppy flowers do you think of the poppy seeds? These flowers are the source of the little black seeds you see on rolls and other pastries. They are quite popular. I once was teased when someone saw me eating a poppy seed roll. My friend said, "Better not get a drug test any time soon. You might test positive for drugs."

Yellow or California, Pink and Orange garden Poppies

False Positive on Drug Test

"Although the drug opium is produced by "milking" latex from the unripe fruits ("seed pods") rather than from the seeds, all parts of the plant can contain or carry the opium alkaloids, especially morphine and codeine. This means that eating foods (e.g., muffins) that contain poppy seeds can result in a false positive for opiates in a drug test. The test is true positive in that it indicates the presence of the drug correctly; it is false only in the sense that the drug was not taken in the typical manner of abuse." Text quoted from Wikipedia. You can read the whole article by doing a search for poppies at www.wikipedia.com.

First in this collection is the California Poppy. I think it is interesting that this same flower is referred to as the "California" Poppy even when it is growing in other states and around the world. Because of it is easy to grow and care for it has been naturalized in other countries such as Australia. And because it spreads so readily it has been considered a minor threat in Tennesee, where it is classified as a Rank 3 Invasive plant.

The pink poppy also grows in California as well. This flower is found growing in gardens and as a low growing cover. It looks much more lacy and feminine compared to the yellow flowers in this same family.

Finally in this row is a garden full of poppies. The petals on these flowers look almost like carnations. Yet as you can see from the close up below they still have that similar purple center. They are lacking the dark spot though toward the center of the field poppy. The familar pods that the flowers emerge from are very visible here.

This orange poppy is a close up of one of the poppies growing in a local garden in Illinois where I live. I found this garden on a walk around the neighborhood in May.

The last two images are ornamental poppies growing in gardens as well. They look quite exotic and fitting of their name. I wonder where the name of poppy originated from? The way they pop out of the pods that hold these flowers may have something to do with it. What do you think?

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