Poppies!!!!!!

They are oriental poppies that I bought late last year as roots, not seeds. (I have planted lots and lots of poppy seeds, but so far none have germinated... don't know what's going wrong there.)

Yesterday, these were swollen buds with a tiny glimpse of red folded like silk inside. At daybreak, they are huge flowers--about a hand-span across. Delicate frilled edges and a cross of black inside, the colour playing games with the camera (there is no yellow on them--it was the sunlight through the ultra-fine petals).

Amazing.

There are more almost-ready in other corners of the garden.