Red Poppies

[Custodian]

Hi everyone, I'm new to this site and hopefully i can gain some knowledge and experience from the members of this site.

I am the memorial custodian(Voluntary) at Palace Barracks in Northern Ireland .I am responsable for keeping the Memory of our servicemen and women who lost their lives while serving in the Armed Forces around the world.and also looking after and maintaining the memorial garden at the same time (See Website Link)index

I have just designed a new memorial in memory of those killed in Afghanistan and Iraq .My idea is to plant red poppy seeds all around the new memorial. I would like help in how I go about getting these seeds in quanity and any advice on how they are planted .the new memorial will be dedicated in November 08 in the South East England.
I've been doing this work for the last 15 years and it is all done on a voluntary basis.

Best Wishes to you all

Albert
Memorial Custodian

[zazen999]

Hi Albert

I, and probably others on here, am a big poppy fan. If you pm me, I can send some to you. I harvest them from the crops every year that I grow and have loads that we won't be needing. I usually scatter them around the locality but I would be happy to send some on. They need to be sown pretty much anytime between now and end of may - if you sow successionally over the next few weeks, you will get a longer season.

There is also a wild flower farm near here; they have absolutely loads of poppies and might either donate or sell some to you [I would hope donate!]. It is truly gorgeous in the poppy season.

Naturescape British Wildflowers

Regards

[rustylady]

Hi Custodian! I really appreciate what you are trying to do. The wild (Flanders) poppies grow well from seed and seem to self seed every year. Once you get hold of the initial supply you should have no problems in keeping them going (I presume they will be grown in grass). Just make sure the grass isn't mown too short or too often as these are wild flowers that usually grow in meadows. Good luck.

[SueA]

That's a lovely idea Albert. I'm afraid I don't know of anywhere to get hold of large quantities of poppy seeds but have you tried contacting some of the big seed companies & asking for help, I'm sure Thompson & Morgan or some others would be able to offer some help.T&M sell Flanders poppies - see link below.
Poppy - Wild Flanders

[nick the grief]

Hi Albert,

You are doing a great service ! One that you might try and get hold of is called Ladybird, Its red with a big black spot on each petal. I'm sure if you wrote to some of the seed merchants they would send you some, if they don't tell them you'll name and shame on here and we'll all boycott them !

More power to your digging arm

Nick

[shirlthegirl43]

Hi and welcome Albert.

I wish you every success in your poppy search, sorry I can't help.

[Shortie]

Hi Albert

I have a packet of Flanders Fields you can have. Though it's not a huge quantity as you'e after it might be a start? I also *might* have a packet of the lady bird ones Nick's talking about.... PM me your address if you want me to pop them in the post

[SarzWix]

Welcome to the Grapevine Custodian. You are doing a wonderful job, and I wish you success in your poppy project. I would also recommend you to contact Wildflowers - Naturescape Native British Wild Flowers, Seeds, Plants and Advice with mail-order and online ordering, who are very helpful, and used to supplying all quantities of wildflower seeds from small packets to acres worth! Also Thompson & Morgan, their seeds are excellent quality. I'm sure if you contacted them they would be more than happy to help for such a cause.
Good luck, and I'm sure the others would agree, we'd love to see pictures when it is flowering