Pictured here is a PAPAVER orientale The dazzling 'Oriental Poppy' is a scarlet-orange flower made famous by New Mexico artist Georgia O'Keeffe's beautiful paintings from the 1930s and are one of the most brilliant perennials in my late spring/early summer gardens. The flowers appear to be fashioned of crepe paper and can be almost 6" across on stems to 3' in height.

While I really love this flower I tend to think of PAPAVER as a 'good news-bad news' perennial. For sheer gorgeousness, no other early season flower even comes close. Additionally, they are one of the easiest and most imperturbable perennials imaginable. On the other hand- the gorgeous shot of color these huge crepe-petaled blooms give my gardens in early June is all too brief....blossoms last just one short week. So while they don't last long they most definitely DO splash my gardens w/ vivid color while they are around.

Because their fantastically vivid color is gone in a blink PAPAVER is one of my favorite flowers to photograph after dark. Taken after an early summer rain shower the single blossom seen here has already started losing it's petals but it's color and intricate seed pod positively glowed that evening.