POPPIES 205 



"An Island Garden," we are indebted for the knowledge 

 that the blossoms will last through the day if picked very 

 early, while the dew is on them. And the gathering of them 

 at this time brings its own reward, for if there are visions of 

 greater loveliness in the outer world than that of a poppy 

 garden, dew-bediamonded in the rays of the rising sun, they 

 are rarely seen. 



In the use of these flowers in-doors it should be remem- 

 bered that both the leaves and the pods are essentially decora- 

 tive, so they must not be left out of the scheme of display. 

 Tall jars or vases are needed for this purpose; glass will do, 

 but the warm tones of the Japanese jars are better. 



Of all the varieties of poppies the Shirley Poppies are 

 favorites with many lovers of flowers. The leaves are slender 

 and full of grace, and the flowers consist simply of four great 

 petals, inside of which is a circle composed of many stamens, 

 while in the centre is the broad, ribbed, and rounded pistil. 

 Within the pistil are the ovules which are to develop into the 

 tiny seed when the decorative pod ripens. 



On the delicate surface of these translucent petals nature 

 paints the most exquisite colors. In some cases the whole 

 flower is of a single hue, while in others there are beautiful 

 combinations. One variety is of a glorious poppy-red with 

 a broad white cross at the base; the stamens have white fila- 

 ments and yellow anthers. Another is a wonderful tint of 

 orange vermilion, varying slightly in color tone from the 

 base outward. Another flower is a combination of pink and 

 white, the petals being a charming geranium-pink color with 

 a narrow margin of white; the ring of light yellow anthers in 

 the middle of the blossom forms a pretty combination with 

 the light pink. 



