POPPY POINTS

The Remembrance Poppy, which has been used since 1921 to commemorate military personnel who have died in war, represents a field poppy, Papaver rhoeas.

But whilst we are all familiar with the poignant little red flower, did you know that an infusion of petals applied to the skin is said to reduce wrinkles or that the seeds can be used in breads and baking?

Other common names for the field poppy include the common poppy, corn poppy, corn rose, Flanders poppy and red river poppy.

The seed of this determined little field poppy can remain dormant in the ground for as long as 50 years when buried or kept in darkness by vegetation.

The annual poppies germination is dependent upon ground being disturbed and exposing them to light. This is why you will see them adorning a new motorway embankment or popping up in imported topsoil.

I also adore the little yellow and orange Welsh poppies but despite their name, they aren’t really poppies at all, but a member of the Meconopsis genus, a group of flowering plants that have poppy-like characteristics.

I love the way that they will only flourish where they want to and are particularly obstinate to bloom where you want them to.

Mine insist on growing between the flagstones and have become wise to the fact I leave them there.

Suttons seeds are offering Field Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) seeds that include a donation to SSAFA.

An average packet contains 2800 seeds and all proceeds from packs sold up to 11/11/18 will go to SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.

So you can just get an order in if you are quick after the 11th, for every pack sold, Suttons will donate 20p to SSAFA.