This year I grew annual Shirley poppies ( in a large pot and in the garden) and they did well. Early March I direct sowed seeds into a flowerpot and also winter sowed some seeds into a water jug. They both did well. The winter sowed seedlings that I transplanted to the garden seemed sturdier than the ones that grew in the pot. I'll definitely grow them again for next year.
I also had my very first Oriental Poppy bloom this year - in August. Three years ago I planted seeds in the garden and only one plant came up. For 2 years it just produced leaves and nothing else. Well, lo and behold, this year it produced a flower! I think the flower lasted 3 days, but it was worth the wait! I'm going to try direct sowing more seeds in the same area in the early spring and hope for the best. The photos are of the Oriental poppy.
