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Almost Speechless Sunday: Poppies

By Sondra Meyer:

Real Estate Agent with EXP Realty, LLC

June 12, 2011 05:58 PM

Take time to stop and smell the roses. It's a saying that we've all heard. But do we?

Sometimes in life there are so many things to occupy our attention. What do we choose to focus on?

While walking to the Incline in Manitou Springs one morning, I noticed this beautiful bed of poppies. It was located outside of one of the shops on the edge of the downtown shopping district. I thought it contributed to the charming appeal of Manitou's historical area.

Flowerbed in Manitou Springs

Having spent a year in Afghanistan, where poppies were used to produce opium, which in turn funded the Taliban, I found the poppies to be very beautiful, but also interesting to see in Colorado. So, I did a little research. I found out that most varieties of poppies do no contain opium. Most poppies grown in Colorado seem to be California poppies which ARE legal to grow. These appear to be Oriental Poppies. Poppy in Manitou Springs

I also noticed that if you do not stop and really look at the flowers, you can't get the full impact of their beauty.

Close up picture of a poppy

For my readers from California, here is a bed of flowers in Downtown Colorado Springs that has some orange poppies that appear to be the California poppies. Poppies are the state flower of California.

Poppies in Flower Bed in Downtown Colorado Springs

For more information about The Incline or Manitou Springs see:

Snapshots of the Manitou Springs: The Incline

Challenges Make Us Stronger: The Incline in the Winter

Who Says the Economy is Bad: Good News In Manitou Springs

If you are interested in buying a home in Manitou Springs, Colorado, feel free to call or email me.

Photographed,

written and posted by

Sondra Meyer CPA/Real Estate Broker

Century 21-Curbow Realty

719-390-1100 or 979-575-2700

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Ralph Gorgoglione

Metro Life Homes - Palm Springs, CA

California and Hawaii Real Estate (310) 497-9407

For some reason these don't look like poppies.

Are you sure they are?

Jun 12, 2011 06:00 PM

Allen 2222

Austin, TX

Hi Sondra - poppies are one of my absolutest favoritest flowers! Such a beautiful color! I wish I had some here - miss the ones I had in San Jose.

Jun 12, 2011 06:03 PM

Tamara Schuster

Naperville Glen Ellyn Lisle Plainfield Wheaton Illinois - Naperville, IL

Realtor Broker - Naperville

These are beautiful.so glad you shared.

Jun 12, 2011 06:08 PM

Diane Lombardino

Keller Williams Realty of Jupiter - Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Beautiful color........thanks for the pictures. When I was a kid, we always had beautiful gardens and I remember the vivd colors of the poppies.

Sondra Meyer:

EXP Realty, LLC - Corpus Christi, TX

See It. Experience It. Live It.

Thank you all for your comments.

Ralph, for a moment you really had me doubting myself. These appear to actually be Oriental Poppies, which have more layers of petal than the California or Opium Poppies. I've added that into the post above. Thank you!

Alison, I haven't been able to figure out why poppies aren't grown very much in Texas. I used Texas A&M's Horticulture site as one of my references.

Tamara, it is my pleasure.

Diane, thank you. Coming from Texas, I had never seen too many poppies, but I do love the vivid color.

Jun 12, 2011 06:18 PM

Gary Woltal

Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX

Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Excellent research on the poppies Sondra and I love the color and you even got a bee in that one. I did think the opium ones were unique and I know that is a huge cash crop by the farmers in Afghanistan from news reports. Manitou Springs has much to offer. They say if you take a walk you see a whole lot more than just driving the car down the block. Fits that stop and smell the roses phrase. Slowing down can be very good for all of us.

Jun 12, 2011 06:20 PM

Tim Lorenz

TIM LORENZ - Elite Home Sales Team - Mission Viejo, CA

949 874-2247

They do not look like the California poppy but it is a nice flower.

Jun 12, 2011 06:43 PM

Not a real person

San Diego, CA

You did good research on your poppies there. What surprises me here is that poppies aren’t grown too often even though they are the state flower. (And why is this not posted in the ActiveRain Nature Station group?)

Jun 13, 2011 06:43 AM

Roy Kelley

Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thanks for your flower photographs. Pretty even if the identity is uncertain.

Blooming for home buyers!

Jun 13, 2011 07:01 AM

Patricia Beck

RE/MAX Properties, Inc., ABR, GRI, SRES - Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado Springs Realty

The one in my backyard just bloomed...they are so pretty!

Jun 13, 2011 07:53 AM

Jerry Newman

Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX

Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Hi Sondra, I am not an expert on flowers, so I will just have to take your word that they are Oriental Poppies. You have some beautiful camera shots from you visit to Manitou Springs.

Jun 13, 2011 09:46 AM

Cherise Selley

Selley Group Real Estate, LLC - Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado Springs Realtor

Sondra,

Looks like you enjoy your time in Manitou Springs. Great shots and hope you have a good week ahead... g

Jun 13, 2011 12:57 PM

Joetta Fort

The DiGiorgio Group - Arvada, CO

Independent Broker, Homes Denver to Boulder

You can be quite certain the poppies have the hairy stems and distinctive pods. I'm always jealous of healthy poppy stands, because I've had no luck with them. I see that Miss Peony snuck in to one shot, that upstart!

Jun 13, 2011 06:19 PM

San Antonio Texas New Homes for Sale

www.sanantoniotexasnewhomesforsale.com - San Antonio, TX

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hill Country

Hi Sondra.... Good looking flowers .... Kinda has a carnation look doesn't it !!! Pretty color ..

Jun 14, 2011 12:42 AM

Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate

John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR

"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Sondra, ahhhhhhhhhhhh....I LOVE poppies and can't grow them, as they need more sun than I have in this part of the world. How cool that you did research, too! Fun visuals AND information--double whammy !

Jun 14, 2011 12:54 PM

Jim Frimmer

HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA

Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

I love poppies but the only places we see them are at SeaWorld and the Zoo.

Jun 14, 2011 01:05 PM

Kristine Ginsberg

Elite Staging and Redesign, LLC - Short Hills, NJ

NJ Home Stager

Wow Sondra - I can't believe you lived in Afghanistan for a year - how cool. I'd love to take off and live in some remote county - what an experience! I too love Oriental Poppies - they are so vibrant and cheerful!

Jun 16, 2011 05:15 PM

Almost Speechless Sunday: Poppies

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