The Peony Poppy. Sharing Seeds, Friendship, and Memories

I’ve mentioned before that the most cherished parts of my garden are the plants gifted from friends’ gardens. Each one carries a story. Every year, one flower stands out, shining more brightly than the rest. This summer, it was my Peony Poppy.

This frilly little beauty kept surprising me. Just when I thought it was done blooming, a flash of pink would appear—another bloom unfurling, adding one more day of delight.

These poppy seeds were a gift from my friend Bonny, but their story began long before her. They first grew in her mother-in-law Nancy’s garden. Nancy has since passed, and I never met her, but every time one of these blooms opens, I think of her.

I wonder if she ever imagined this part of her legacy—tiny black seeds spreading joy in gardens she never stepped into, with strangers like me thanking her silently while collecting seeds for the next season.

Most of what I know about gardening, I’ve learned from friends. Years ago, Bonny showed me how to gather seeds from the star-shaped windows of the pods once they dried. I have already filled a quarter of a mason jar full—plenty to share.

The flowers may have officially withered for this year, but the story doesn’t end there. Each seed saved and passed along ensures her garden keeps growing in unexpected places. Next year, the joy and beauty of Nancy’s Peony Poppy will live on, made possible by the itty-bitty seeds she left with her family.