I haven't seen poppies growing in Alabama. the only fields of red we are likely to see are the red spider lilies in late summer.

Thanks for the article. they must be beautiful, to inspire such poetry. We also do not have lilacs, or tulips, but we do have lots of other spring-early summer flowers.

I haven't been able to keep them growing here either, but I've succeeded with a few a time or two; then forgot about them and didn't try again. So my fault, I'm sure. They were beautiful last week along that interstate, though, almost like a solid red blanket waving in the wind. They grew like that at the old home in Bardstown years ago, the one that my uncle and I restored. Both the farm and the areas along the interstate where I saw them are in a different zone than mine, cooler - so that might make a bit of a difference.

Of course I have a hard time getting a lilac to grow here as well.

Happy Summer, Hazelnut!! Are your gardenias blooming or are they all finished by now? You can tell I know nothing about gardenias, but I sure remember yours!

I am starting over with baby gardenias, so they are not old enough to bloom yet. They will form a hedge out beyond the front door -- hopefully enclosing a front courtyard. I like privacy and my house faces the highway. So I will have gardenias and azaleas between me and the traffic noise. Hope it works.

Sounds very pretty. I hope it works for you too.

Well, we had a rain and guess what. My gardenias in the pots are blooming their little heads off!

Me too with the rain and my magnolia!! My little magnolia is the one I planted from seed just a few years ago. Rained all night long and this morning I've been watching the single bloom open up.

Cheers for the rain!! And the gardenias and magnolias, too, of course.

Rain must be the magic potion!

Probably.