Pictured here is a PAPAVER orientale The dazzling 'Oriental Poppy' is a scarlet-orange flower made famous by New Mexico artist Georgia O'Keeffe's beautiful paintings from the 1930s and are one of the most brilliant perennials in my late spring/early summer gardens. The flowers appear to be fashioned of crepe paper and can be almost 6" across on stems to 3' in height.

While I do love this flower I tend to think of PAPAVER as a 'good news-bad news' perennial. For sheer gorgeousness, no other early season flower even comes close. Additionally, they are one of the easiest and most imperturbable perennials imaginable. On the other hand- the gorgeous shot of color these huge crepe-petaled blooms give my gardens in June is all too brief....blossoms last just one short week. So while they don't last long they most definitely DO splash my gardens w/ vivid color while they are around.

I photographed the blossom seen here earlier this week after a hard summer rain we get this time of year. While several of it's neighbors were fairly well beat down this guy was standing tall and strong allowing me to shown it's beautiful color and amazingly intricate seed head at the center.