Finally there has been a long enough break between showers for late spring seed heads to dry on their stems for harvesting. Above are the seed cases of Papaver somniferum (peony poppy), whose frothy pink blooms were spectacular in the Borders during October. They are exquisite from the moment they form their buds – elongated globes that slowly split to allow their enormous pink blooms to unfurl. Then once the petals fall & blow away, a handsome green seed pod is left standing tall to bask in the sun. Eventually the pod ‘pops’ its top, and slowly dries out, ’til these wonderful brown cases are left – they rattle when you shake them, ready to spill their seed (below). It’s best to harvest them before they do this of their own accord! I store them in brown paper bags, ready to sow again next autumn….
