Paula loves the gorgeous colors of poppies and watching them blow in southern Savannah breezes. This flower has been around for thousands of years. In Persian literature, red poppies, especially red corn poppies, are the flower of love. In Europe, poppies actually grow as wildflowers.

To have your own poppy field, try planting them in the fall or winter if you live in a mild climate. The flowers like lots of sun but will survive occasional shade. You don’t have to plant the seeds directly in the soil. Just sprinkle them on the surface of your flower bed. Poppies grow easily and are simple to maintain. They prefer only slightly moist soil, so water lightly.

Since poppies bloom for only a few days, many people opt to plant another annual with them to maintain the fullness of their flower garden.