Container Gardens-The California Poppy

I should start by saying that the California poppy is the state flower for California. Its botanical name is Eschscholzia California.

"The flowers have long stems with a silky texture. Each flower has four petals. The flowers burst forth from February through September." The petals close at night or while experiencing windy weather, then re-open again the following morning. They sometimes remain closed in cloudy weather.

California poppies are actually a wildflower, they thrive in full sun and do well even in poor soil. They are an excellent choice for container gardens. They do well in hanging baskets and windowsill containers. When planting them in containers, make sure you maintain sufficient drainage by adding a layer of pebbles or sand so the drainage holes will not become clogged. They are also drought-tolerant and require little care.

These lovely flowers are self-seeding and extremely easy to grow in gardens. You can direct seed them anywhere you want a splash of color.

California Poppy seeds are like tiny beads that are dark brown or black. Plant the seed shallow, about 1/16" deep. The seed germinates in fifteen to thirty days, although my seed (pictured at right) took only seven days.

Place your containers along a walkway or path to create an alluring, attractive welcome to friends and guest. It's also an excellent idea to place hanging baskets of California Poppies near the entrance of your home or close to a place that you frequently spend time outdoors so that you may enjoy the enchanting fragrance that emanates from this lovely species.

I love the idea of creating this special cascading effect using stacked pots as seen in the video above. So many plants can be displayed beautifully and are so easily cared for when grown in this manner. You simply water from the top container to reach all levels. What could be more simple? The final results are outstandingly beautiful. This is such a gratifying project, you may want to create several to enjoy.

The video above shows pictures of poppies in various locations, accompanied by delightful music. I found this very relaxing and want to share it, in hopes that you may enjoy the same tranquil effect I experienced while viewing this short video. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.