Poppin' Poppies

I planted these Elka poppy seeds in November and the rewards have been gigantic. Literally - nearly 6 feet tall, with numerous 4"-5" flowers on each plant. They weren't supposed to get quite that big, but I'm not complaining.

And because they were planted in the front yard, everyone who walked past got to enjoy them (although, in truth, a few stems did go missing. Ah well...).

Ultimately, the point of growing all this beauty is to harvest the tiny seeds - in this case, a blondie-tan color, not black - for cooking and baking. 

Bad Haircut Day

Ouch! But I had to do it. I'm sorry I had to do it, but I really had no choice.

Before

Otherwise, this Japanese maple (Acer palmate var. dissectum) completely blocks the walkway for us humans. And its barricade of leaves turns back the spray from the sprinkler heads, creating its own private drought.

I know it will grow back, though. I know it because this is not the first time this sad accident of a haircut has occurred. Pretty much, every few years (and we planted this tree in 1987) I perform this small but necessary crime.

After