As a group, they are frequently called common, corn or Flanders poppy.

Botanically, they fit within the species Papaver rhoeas. Within that species are the Shirley poppies, composed of a range of colors all sharing the lack of a black blotch at the base of the petals and having pale stamens. Some time in April, I planted two mixtures, one called 'Angel's Choir', developed by Thompson & Morgan in England, and a single and double Shirley Poppy mix. They are still going strong and have delighted me with a range of colors from pastel to bright, solid to bicolor in both single and double forms.

According to "Poppies: The Poppy Family in the Wild and in Cultivation" by Christopher Grey-Wilson, some strains of Shirley poppy have too many plain red forms. He recommends removing these the moment they come into bloom, so subsequent generations will remain in the pastel realm. They're somewhat of a deadheading nightmare, as their delicate petals can easily be knocked off their base while reaching in to clip seed heads. Although I plan to let them reseed for next season, I'll be deadheading them to keep them blooming as long as possible.

Papaver rhoeas is the flower of Flanders Fields, the symbol of the American Legion. The most famous poem of World War I begins, "In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow, among the crosses row on row." This lipstick-red flower has a basal white blotch instead of the typical black and grows to about two feet tall.

A great resource for seed and information is the One Stop Poppy Shoppe, http://www.onestoppoppyshoppe.com. Located in northern Wisconsin, the company carries a good selection of open-pollinated heirloom and hybrid annual and perennial poppy seeds.

It's where I found more details about the peony-form poppy, which is within the species somniferum (aka opium poppy). The online catalog features Papaver somniferum var. Paeoniflorum (meaning peony-like flower) in both mixed and single colors including white, pink, red and orange. Flemish antique peony poppies are characterized by their ruffled double white petals streaked with pink to maroon, especially toward the petal tips. Because no one wants to be thought of as growing a drug, seed sellers usually call opium poppies by other names, including bread poppies, the Flemish antiques and peony poppies.

There also is a cut-petal form among opium poppies often referred to as laciniatum. They are characterized by their fringed petal margins. One of the most common of these is the Danish Flag poppy or 'Danebrog.' These single blood-red poppies have a white thumb-sized blotch at the base.

Select Seeds catalog carries what it calls, simply, P. somniferum 'Heirloom,' a variable mix that includes lavender, black raspberry and cherry all with a darker blotch at the petal base.

Many of these poppies will reseed, or you can sow new seed you've mixed with sand so they don't grow too close together. I can't wait to try some new ones next year.

The opinions expressed are solely the writer's. Reach her at jeanstarr@verizon.net.