Large crinkled,tissue-paper-like flowers looked to have four vivid red petals on closer inspection.
The poppy flower is held aloft by strong, curved hairy stems. The hairs are to deter predators. I have also learnt that the hairy stems taste strange to predators!
This next photo was taken in the evening. Closed petals looked as if they were in prayer.
The three stages in a common poppy flower are: Bud Flower Capsule
My favourite poppy images are always the ones where the central rings of black stamens start to produce their pollen.
After a few days the pollen has started to fall on the petals as insects have carried it away.
The poppy pods that grow after the bright flower petals fall off look like little faces that have sprouted a flat top hair cut.
The last time I drove past the poppy field I couldn't resist one last photo. It was just in time, as two days later the farmer had cropped the field.
Beautiful photos and descriptions Maria. Poppies are fabulous aren't they. The fields here were full of them 6 or 7 weeks ago....now most of the wild flowers have gone, the native garrigue vegetation is dormant in the heat, and the plants that need water look longingly at the sky hoping for a storm...and in this part of France, they usually don't have to wait too long. Jx
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