I got three yesterday. When I make my selections, I give them to the art teacher at my school. He has the kids cut the pictures of flowers out and uses them in art projects. And the vegetable and fruit pictures too!

I especially love the daylily catalogs with new introductions. Crintonic Gardens is my favorite catalog to drool over.

Nursing homes in my hometown takes them for projects too.

I knew a lady that sold daylilies and she had cut many of the pictures of the ones she grow and pasted them on a poster board. Then when she had visitors to the garden come when not all were in bloom she would put them to the poster lol.

My Top Five list reflects my fascination with Asian greens, and also with cool-summer gardening.

Kitazawa Seeds
Tainong Seeds (wholesalers, but they will sell $2 samples)
Territorial Seeds (focused West of the Cascades)
Johnnies (based in Maine)
Baker Creek (especially their bulk seed deals)

Rick ~ Have you ever grown Meconopsis? That would be the first ornamental that I would grow if I lived in a place that had cool summers. Please grow some so we can be envious...

Don't let her tempt you, Rick! An exercise in frustration if ever there was one!

Woofie ~ You sound like the "voice of experience". Tell us...

I have tried just about every seed starting technique known to man for getting Meconopsis seeds to sprout. And you'd think here in the frozen northland, they'd do just fine. I even got some fresh seeds from a lady in Alaska. So far, no luck. I WILL keep trying, but it gets depressing after a while. If I ever break the code, I'll let you know!
And I think they want a colder climate than Rick has over on the west side. Not sure, but I think so.

Meconopsis seeds need to be fresh.(store in 'frig)
They will sprout readily at about 60º F .
They like a peaty moist, but not wet soil.
I can get them to sprout,but have not been able to carry them through to the garden.
One needs to water with peroxide in the water to avoid molds which cause damp off.
Last year I did get seedlings transplanted to garden, but then there was a big rain and they were damaged.
They need protection from slugs too.

with Carolyn. I bought one a few years ago and it bloomed. I collected the seed and had about 2 flats going. I too have had an issue in getting them to grow from 4 inch pot to garden. They like a shady spot not sun. The one I bought a few years ago is still living so maybe it will bloom again. I'm hopping the ones I planted from the 4 inch pot will how this spring!!! I winter sowed mine last February and potted up in May. Some of mine were good sized when set out in the garden this fall. We had a week of freezing temps about 1 week or 2 about and they disappeared.

I'm glad someone finally posted a picture (I'm following this thread on my iphone). I didn't know what you guys were talking about. I bought a plant 2 years ago, but don't think I tried to start from seed.

So, where did you folks get your plants? I'd be willing to give that a try. I have a spot that I think would work for them, if I could ever get one going!

I stopped for groceries on my way home from work and the store had the big Baker Creek seed catalog. What a great catalog & reference book. 1st time I actually paid for a seed catalog, but couldn't resist

I bought my Blue Poppy from a little seasonal greenhouse that sets up for the season at a farmer's market. I think it came from Bylands, Kelowna BC. Bylands is a major supplier (grower) for perennials/trees/shrubs in Western Canada and their products are available in most garden centers.

I bought mine at a local nursery,Woofie.
Joanne, what interested you in the Baker Creek catalog?
I will be starting my Dragon Wing begonias soon. Waiting for them to arrive in the mail.

Baker Creek was mentioned a couple of times in this thread. I had never seen a catalog from Baker Creek before and liked the photos, so it jumped in my shopping cart

I new plants could do that in the spring, guess catalogs take over in the winter.

>> Meconopsis

I am SO not looking for challenges! If two varieties are listed as "easy" and "easier", I'll keep looking for "easiest".

I was under the impression that the northeast and northwest U.S. were both amenable to blue poppies, in terms of soil and climate.

I had a GardenWeb friend some years ago who lived in Nova Scotia. She grew (wintersowed) ) the most beautiful blue poppies..

Karen

I know that they will grow in Alaska.
I once had a few germinate (yes, Karen, wintersown ), but they didn't survive. I probably should have planted them out sooner; I think they got too wet in the pots.

The Canadian guru on blue poppies grows them on the Sunshine Coast which is just north of Vancouver, B.C.
I am determined to get them to grow from seeds through to flowers.
I obtained fresh seeds by buying plants first.
JLHudson has good seeds which germinate for me.
Also those from Seedaholic germinated.