Icelandic Poppies (PAPAVER nudicaule) are one of my all time favorite cut flowers. Not to be confused with PAPAVER somniferum (Opium Poppies), the variety that makes those wonderful, funky green pods. While both are beautiful, the Iceland Poppies are grown for their tissue paper like blooms and are a highly prized long-lasting cut flower. Opium Poppies, on the other hand, are grown 'almost' exclusively for their pods and seeds while their billowy flowers rarely hold up long enough to make a suitable cut.

The sweetly scented blossoms of Icelandic Poppies sit atop sturdy two foot stems that rise from low-growing, clumped foliage. The blossoms are abundant and brilliant, and create a striking display. The petals have a crinkled silk appearance, and come in every shade but blue.

I took the above photo during a summer shower. The flower- usually perky and up-right- had such a droopy look about it that I decided to photograph it in this rather unusual state. This variety of Icelandic Poppy is called 'Champagne Bubbles'....a rather appropriate name this particular day.