popping poppies

when i was a kid, i spent a good portion of my childhood living with my grandparents. my grandpa was an amazing gardener. he had a beautiful yard full of lush flowers, many native to the northwest. he also planted, cared for, and grew a gorgeous vegetable garden behind the methodist church he attended.

i loved spending time with him in both of these gardens.

one little trick my grandpa taught me as a kid was to take the dead poppy leaves, make a fist, hold the poppy over the top of my fist, then using my other hand to “POP!” the poppy.

this is one reason, i have always loved poppies.

when you enter my home, i have a large oil painting of poppies –

and in another room, i have an arrangement of poppies–

but finally, after all these years, i have poppies in my flower gardens-

and this week, i taught my kids how to “POP!” poppies.

maybe grandpa would be proud.