See red in a wild meadow
Ruth adds this most evocative annual to her garden
LTHOUGH wild poppies flower in summer, their symbolism is at its greatest in autumn, as our minds turn towards those who have fallen in war. This week’s free seeds are for wildflower poppies that will cut a bloody swathe through the garden and, if left, ripen and self-seed.
They are easy to sow and will tolerate even hostile environments. Sow them thinly now, in arcs and curves to create a natural, flowing display, or save them until next spring.
You can also sow them with other wildflower seeds such as corncockle, cornflower and annual ornamental grasses to create an eye-catching swathe of colour and texture that moves in the wind.
I am adding these gorgeous scarlet poppies to our wildflower lawn. It already contains a diverse range of flowers, including scabious, campion, knapweed and ox-eye daisies, and the vivid poppies will look fantastic popping up throughout the grass.
If you want to introduce wildflowers to your garden, autumn is the ideal time to do so.
Using a spade, lift an area of turf from your lawn or wild patch of garden, and dig it over using a hand fork to loosen the soil and create a seedbed.
For the most attractive result, scatter the seeds so they will grow in a natural formation. Sow them thinly.
Water in the seeds well, and next spring sow fresh batches every three weeks to create a longer-lasting blaze of colour.
This year’s free seeds end with the 24 October issue, but return with a double helping at Christmas before restarting on 23 January 2021.