Bhutan's national flower, Meconopsis Grandis, or Himalayan blue poppy as is it popularly known, is a flower so enchantingly blue that it instantly commands undivided attention.
The Blue Poppy (Meconopsis) is a genus of plants in the family Papaveraceae, known for their large, showy, blue flowers. They are native to the Himalayas and other mountainous regions of Asia. The most well-known species is the Himalayan Blue Poppy (Meconopsis betonicifolia) which is the national flower of Bhutan.
Blue poppies come from alpine regions of the Himalayas, so they dislike summer heat. The triple digit heat of Arkansas was not a cup of tea for these plants used to cool summers.
Such a rich true blue flower is a rare garden treasure. Blue Poppies have a reputation of being difficult to grow, but these plants can be grown successfully if you follow a few basic guidelines.
goes on .. In brief, a flower signifies many good things. Similarly, for Bhutan, Blue Poppy signifies pursuit of. happiness, compassion, purity, friendship, harmony. and endless peace, and finding happiness in simplest.
No matter the season, the time of the year or the prefecture in Japan, you seem to be able to find different flowers at every turn. Poppies in Japan are so gorgeous and there are beautiful spots around the country to find these seasonal flowers.
They were initially made by disabled veterans and the proceeds of sales, then and now, go towards funding veterans' needs. The poppy remains an enduring symbol of remembrance in Canada, Great Britain, the nations of the Commonwealth, and in the United States for those who served or fell in service of their country.
Rough poppy (Papaver hybridum)
The rarest of the poppies, with small red petals that carry a black spot at the base. Its seed capsule is globe-shaped and covered in stiff yellow bristles.
In this exceptional genus, dwarf bear-poppy (Arctomecon humilis) is the rarest — and perhaps most remarkable — species, due to its profusion of delicate white flowers and unique habitat. In many ways, the dwarf bear-poppy is a poster child for rare plant conservation.
Most people think there is only one poppy to be worn for remembrance, but, in reality, there are four Remembrance Poppies which can be worn: Red, White, Purple and Black.
It flourishes in dry, warm climates and the vast majority of opium poppies are grown in a narrow, 4,500-mile stretch of mountains extending across central Asia from Turkey through Pakistan and Burma. Recently, opium has been grown in Latin America, notably Colombia and Mexico.
There are two species in the Meconopsis genus of poppies that are referred to as Himalayan blue poppies. One is Meconopsis grandis, and the other is Meconopsis baileyi (also known as Meconopsis betonicifolia). Baileyi is the most widely cultivated and the one that this article focusses on.
Blue poppy seeds are produced throughout Europe and possess a distinct almond flavor as opposed to the mellower taste of brown and white poppy seeds. Poppy seeds for baking must be toasted or baked before their flavor to be at their peak.
A blue flower called Meconopsis is its national flower. It is also known as the Himalayan blue poppy but does not produce opium. It's found mainly in mountainous areas at an elevation of 3,000-4,500 meters, as they can survive in extreme conditions, such as freezing temperatures.
What does the purple poppy mean? The purple poppy is often worn to remember animals that have been victims of war. Animals like horses, dogs and pigeons were often drafted into the war effort, and those that wear the purple poppy feel their service should be seen as equal to that of human service.
Purple Poppy – War Horse Memorial & animal charities
Purple poppies are worn to honour animals who were victims of war. Many war horses, dogs and pigeons were killed during service in WW1.
Some people think all poppies are red, but these spring bloomers come in yellow, white, orange, gold, blue, pink or purple, and there are different types, including Oriental, Shirley, Breadseed, Iceland (all Papaver spp.)
Because the harvest is limited to about a six-week window, labor is expensive. The process is also dangerous. Most harvesters, many of them children, develop opium addictions or serious health problems by absorbing the sap through their skin.
State Flower
California Golden Poppy. Eschscholzia californica. The California golden poppy is bright orange with blue-green, fern-like leaves and grows in bushy clumps up to 2 feet tall and wide. Their flower petals can reach 2 inches long and 3 inches wide. Golden poppies grow throughout California.
A Purple Paw badge - to commemorate all animal victims of human exploitation - can be purchased from the Animal Aid website.
Papaver somniferum (Paeoniiflorum Group) 'Pink Paeony' (Opium Poppy) is an upright annual boasting large, fully double flowers, 4-5 in. across (10-12 cm), densely packed with soft pink, crumpled petals. Blooming for weeks in summer, the ravishing blooms sit on top of stout stems clad with deeply-lobed, silvery leaves.
Australians wear a Red Poppy on Remembrance Day for three reasons. Firstly, in memory of the sacred dead who rest in Flanders' Fields.
Wearing a poppy (on the left breast or lapel) is more common in Australia on and around Remembrance Day, 11 November.
While the Queen has not commented about her choice to wear a bouquet of poppies, it's thought by some that her five poppies could represent each service in the World Wars: the Army, the RAF, the Navy, the Civil Defence and women.