In addition to the oriental poppies I photographed at Longwood Gardens, I also photographed a couple of other types of poppies this spring.

The first is papaver somniferum – commonly known as eithr the Opium Poppy or the Bread Poppy. The seeds of this flower can be used to make poppy seeds for bread – and opium can be made from other parts of the plant.  I found the Opium Poppies growing in the herb garden at the National Arboretum in Washington DC.

(c) 2009 Patty Hankins

(c) 2009 Patty Hankins

Here’s one of the flowers backlit by the sun. I love the glow of the red and purple in the photo.

(c) 2009 Patty Hankins

And finally, three poppies in various stages of blooming.

(c) 2009 Patty Hankins

The final poppy I photographed this year is a Moroccan Poppy – papaver atlanticum.  I really like the delicate petals on this flower. I photographed the Moroccan Poppies at Green Spring Gardens in Alexandria, Virginina.

(c) 2009 Patty Hankins

(c) 2009 Patty Hankins