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.The flower stems are strong and tall, up to 1.2m (4ft), and each supports a single magnificent bloom, blood red and boldly imprinted at the base of each petal with a jet-black splodge. The stamens, arranged in a broad circle around the dark, central knob

Are you snowed under with seed catalogues? It seems that even before the summer stutters to an end we have to start thinking about next year.I don't usually grow much in the way of annuals in my garden (apart from dahlias and poppies, of course

Beech leaves are among the slowest deciduous foliage to break down, making them perfect for Christmas decorations. Combine them with elegant poppy seed heads and spray with silver paint to show off their intricate structure and add sparkle to your

Taking root cuttings couldn't be easier and it's the ideal way to increase your stock of perennials, such as phlox, rhus, mint, Japanese anemones and Primula denticulata (see picture). Take cuttings now and you'll be potting up new plants in spring. Garden fork Sharp knifeLarge p...

shape. Although it is an old variety (1906) its beauty hasn't been eclipsed. Height 1m.Papaver 'Mrs Perry'This slightly washed-out poppy bears the name of the 20th-century artist, who scoured East Anglia in the late 1930s, looking for pale versions

've formed a good root system.Established oriental poppySharp knifeMulti-cell traySeed compostHorticultural gritSeptember - March20 minutes to take the cuttingsLift a clump of the oriental poppy that you want to take cuttings from or just scrape away the soil

they're about 4cm tall and again at 8cm, so that they're spaced about 15cm apart.AdamTo get the best possible display of poppies, keep plants well watered until they are established.Advice on growing flowersPlant profile of California poppyGrowing

.Every year at Gardeners’ World Live I see the ladybird poppy (Papaver commutatum), and wish I had it. I never see it at any flower shows or public gardens, or even growing in people’s own gardens – but there it is, without fail flowering its socks off

In a large pot, mix together a rich purple osteospermum with zesty yellow and orange bidens, lantana, portulaca and California poppies for the perfect summer cocktail.springJune - August 40 minutesOsteospermum 'Malindi'Lantana camaraCalifornia poppy

Plant out tender summer-bedding plants, such as begonias, once all risk of frost has passedLook out for aphids on lupins, and spray with a soap-based insecticide if infectedPush canes into pots of tall-growing lilies and tie their stems