5.26.2012

Poppy Fever

Like anyone else, some days are good and others not so much. Unfortunately, it was the latter on Tuesday and I needed some music to reinforce my mood. I flipped through my CD case and settled on some Peggy Lee and listened repeatedly to "Is That All There Is?" on my short drive home.
Feeling less disgruntled the next day, I cycled through the other songs on the CD. This CD isn't on heavy rotation in my car so I couldn't recall the songs on it. I was pleasantly surprised when "Fever" started playing. The Oriental poppies in my garden remind me of this song and right now I have poppy fever. 
It's poppy time again. The time of year when poppies start their annual bloom fest. The buds belie the flowers greatness.  Poppies herald the unofficial beginning of summer (Memorial Day) and my back garden starting to wake up.
Poppies are a sultry flower. Look even the wasps can't keep themselves away. I think that's a wasp. I have a wasps' nest in my shed that I've never figured out what to do with it. Since it's still there I have a healthy supply of pollinators. 

The pop pop pop of the buds reminds me of Peggy Lee snapping her fingers as she sings. The unfurling of the delicate petals takes my breath away. I will leave you with a few parting photos and the first stanza of "Fever."
Never know how much I love you
Never know how much I care
When you put your arms around me
I get a fever that's so hard to bare

You give me fever....

17 comments:

  1. They are beautiful. Such pretty flowers with their delicate look.

    Cher Sunray Gardens

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful poppies! Thanks for sharing your mood-lifting story.:)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very nice fotos. I hope, that next year I'll have a garden to grow poppies. Now, just admire the wild.
    I just watched the weather forecast for Las Vegas, There you have warmer than is here and evening will be rain. We expect to rain on Monday night.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love poppies, especially red. Pretty images of them too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ty słuchałaś muzyki, a my oglądamy Twoje piękne maki :-). Pozdrawiam.
    You listened to music, and we watch your beautiful poppies :-). Yours.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I was singing along with you there, GS. (Isn't it a bee)? Dave

    ReplyDelete
  7. Love Peggy Lee and those poppies are a amazing...mine are finally starting to grow in a bit too....I can see why this flower gives you fever!!!

    ps-looks like a honey bee...any bee hives 1-3 miles away from you? of course I am not the best judge with insects.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks Dave and Donna for letting me know it's a bee. I'm never quite sure and usually call everything a pollinator so I don't have to guess. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love that Peggy Lee song!! Your poppies are beautiful! Your little critter is a honeybee. Wasps have much pointier ends. The xeric monarda is called Peter's Purple and was purchased from High Country Gardens, which is in New Mexico. They have a retail nursery and an awesome website. Their plants are incredible!! You should check them out but beware - they're addictive!! :o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ironically, I live about half a mile from the store in Santa Fe. It's my favorite nursery. Many of my plants come from there.

      Delete
  10. Oh, I love poppies! And I think they do give a gardener fever - poppy fever! What beautiful coloring. That red matched with that purple - gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Fabulous images of your poppies! I love poppies and that song! Definitely screams summer with those hot colors.

    ReplyDelete
  12. My poppies are just about to open. I like your choices of companions. My plants are too isolated and could use a few new friends to really get some music going.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Girl Sprout, I was just listening to Elvis singing Fever this week! (And melting into a puddle while he did.) Hope today was a more pleasant Tuesday for you than last Tuesday. Your poppies look sooooo lush and beautiful. I love how frothy they are next to the Hesperaloe's (sp?) spikes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are hesperaloes! They're a dwarf cultivar, red brake lights.

      Delete
  14. ¡Bonitas imágenes y buen blog! Saludos desde Granada.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...