For 2001, Park Seeds is offering Hollyhock Jet Black, described as "deep royal purple-to-black," as well as Black Peony, an annual poppy with "huge, velvety double blooms of midnight maroon."

Larkspurs, like annual poppies, need to be planted when the soil is still cold, and when hot weather comes they generally vanish.

Drought conditions also call for prairie plants, of course, and I'm thinking of another section for annual poppies, coneflowers, coreopsis, gaillardia, butterfly weed and black-eyed Susan.

Colorful self-sowers like annual poppies can fill any gaps and add charming chaos.

In 1930 the British Legion stated that on the annual poppy day collection depended their ability to assist all ex-servicemen.

For four years I have been trying to grow annual lettuce-leaf poppies, using seeds from plants that grow on abandoned lots here and elsewhere around the state.

Unexpected losers are annual poppies and ursinia, which are supposed to do well in dry weather.

Hardy annuals, like cleome, annual poppies, sweet alyssum, bachelor's buttons and love-in-a-mist, will survive a light frost and can be sown directly in the garden as soon as the forsythia is in flower.

Annual Poppies There is something wonderful about annual poppies.

Ms. Surrell said she has noticed more interest in the annual poppy, for example, which blooms in orange as well as shades of yellow, rose and crimson.