Papaver somniferum

Below is the notorious Papaver somniferum or opium poppy, growing in Giverny, France. Most people probably know that this plant is responsible for the drugs morphine, codeine and of course, heroin.

Poppies were first recorded as a cultivated plant by Sumerians around 4000BC. They called it the 'plant of joy' presumably due to the narcotic effects the plant had on them.



The seed pods themselves are quite sculptural in the garden but no, you probably won't be able to do much with this plant in its rare form. (Not that you'd try.) The process of converting the milky sap of the fruit into a drug is fairly complicated, as I recently learned in an article on PBS Frontline. But you can enjoy the lovely flower of this annual, self-seeding plant. You can also enjoy poppyseed muffins, but remember what happened to Elaine on Seinfeld.



There are over 100 species of Papaver. Though I cannot find out why this plant was given the genus name Papaver, somniferum refers to the sleep-inducing qualities of this plant.

Tradescantia

Below, two shots of Tradescantia virginiana (or a hybrid) in Giverny, France. It's also in bloom right now in New York City.



Tradescantia is named for John Tradescant the Elder, a botanist from the early 17th Century; virginiana refers to the fact that this is a New World plant. As for the common name, I think I've mentioned before that when a common name ends with -wort, it is a clue that the plant has some homeopathic uses. Spiderwort, obviously enough, was used to cure spider bites (though I'm not sure it really works).



Tradescantia is in the Commeliniaceae family, and is related to the edible plant Commelina communis (or day-flower) . It's also related to a bedding plant called purple heart (Tradescantia pallida) and the popular indoor plant, Wandering Jew (Tradescantia zebrina).

More Giverny, and summer perennials

I love these two plant combinations - the yellow on yellow and below that picture, the pink on pink.

First, we have Lilies and this other perennial (I don't know yet what it is. If you know, please comment. Eventually I will look it up):


Next, Phlox and Hibiscus with Hollyhocks (Alcea) in the background:



ADDED: the yellow perennial is yellow loosestrife, Lysimachia puntata.

Giverny

For no good reason, here's a few shots I took when I went to Giverny two years ago.


Claude Monet lived and painted in the building above with his children and his soon-to-be second wife. Of course, everyone is aware of Monet's talent as a painter, but perhaps what is less known is his skill as a paysagiste, or landscape designer.


Of course, I can't post anything about Monet without this:


And this: