The Daily Dig

Gardening with and under the direction of a curious three year old can be quite the horticultural adventure, and fortunately for me these explorations through the plant world are taking me in directions that I might not have gone had I not had my new partner in crime.

Annies annuals has been a great source of inspiration for many of this years trips through the plant world. Each week I receive in my inbox new recommendations to try in our garden, and it was in one such email early this past spring that we were introduced to Papaver commutatum 'Ladybird' or as it has been renamed by my gardening partner for use in our garden *'Ladybug'*.

Turns out that the name "ladybird" sounded to her like "ladybug" and being a huge fan of the Sesame street cartoon Ladybug picnic we just had to smile and let her renaming of the plant sick. And each morning since the plant has been in bloom we have gone out to count the number of flowers while singing the words to the song.

True to Annies description this plant puts on an amazing show of red blooms with black spots and it looks fantastic in our drought tolerant mediterranean garden. The show starts with one, then two, five, 12, and then on to more than a three year old can count at one time, upwards of 20 + blooms now, and as you can see in these photos Lily is very happy with her choice :)

And that goes for me too, I love the fabulous show that Papaver commutatum 'Ladybird' er, Ladybug is putting on in our garden and now that this seasons performance is underway I am already making plans for next years, where it will be held, and for what audience. Thinking some where in the garden out in front of our house were we can provide a much bigger stage, and so all the garden geeks who pass by can enjoy them as much as we have and perhaps introduce them into their gardens.

Here is Annies description and a link to Papaver commutatum 'Ladybird' so you can add them to your gardening wish list now!

Our most popular Poppy! Unbeatable for putting the “pop” in your Spring garden with its brilliant, true red blooms & black spots, ‘Ladybird’ is positively dazzling when massed. I adore her tidy, well-behaved habit, it grows to only about 15” tall & 12-18” across with low, neat foliage bearing 15 or more 3” blooms at a time. Combine it with Nemophila menziesii “Baby Blue Eyes” or Limnanthes douglasii “Meadow Foam” for wondrous effect! Choice in a container, too – at least 5 gal. size. Give it rich soil and dead-head for looongest bloom.

Poppy Fans - As cool season growers, Papavers should be planted only when extreme heat or extreme cold is not anticipated!

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