I'm the other side of the River from you in Cold Spring and my oriental poppies are up and at 'em already, about a foot of foliage, so yours might very well be goners. Mine have no flower buds yet, but typically they bloom right around the first week of June.

Poppies are a bit touchy to transplant, I'm told. They survive best if transplanted when dormant. The other problem might be a black walnut nearby? Just guessing...

Mine are up as well, although I just discovered a new one this year. Two years ago I transplanted one on either side of an old well head. One side came back, but the other side didn't, until this year. No blooms yet, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I love these poppies so much I dug up my sister in law's, too, and stuck them in my yard.

Keep hoping, they may surprise you!

Thanks, lots of hope here, ha ha ha.....no black walnuts...but that was a good suggestion I hadn't thought of. Enjoy yours!

JJG,

I'm in Rockland, my poppies are up (3-5") but they are in a well protected bed (hedges surround the area, the plants get almost full sun (about 80% of the day).

Well, I may try just one more time this year...I'll try to find the most protected site in my gardens. I have no idea why I have such awful luck with these poppies...They do grow locally here...just not in my yard. I have hundreds of other perennials that do great...do you think fall or spring planting is the best for these?..I've tried both, but if they are not in the right spot, then it didn't matter. I had the same problem with a star magnolia issue...I planted three different times, but gave up on having one in my yard......that got costly for losing them. Thanks for any help....JoAnn

A man who used to work on this former farm told the previous owner that the poppies growing around our old stone well have been there for 100 years! So I'm a poor one to give advice as they just come up every year in great profusion with no care whatever. And as others have said the growth is over a half a foot high now.

The location is full sun except on the shady side of the well where they grow slightly less vigorously. The soil around the well looks to be ordinary typical local clay, heavy stuff. Two roses I planted there didn't do well. Possibly root competition but the poppies don't do much after blooming so I don't see that would be a reason.

I would be happy to send you a cutting or maybe a dug plant? I'm not sure what the best way is to propagate them.

You're in the Hudson Valley so can't be far. I'm in Columbia County near Chatham.

They go dormant in August - mark the spot and transplant them then. You can get them potted with foliage now - but don't get those boxed plants because they are already dead. Try a local nursery instead.

Thank you all for your kind responses, and for your offer of a cutting or plant, that was so nice. Chatham, is that by Albany? I'm in Orange County,not far from Stewart Airport. I am not sure what I am doing wrong, but I will try again. Speaking to my neighbor, she has the same problem, although she planted hers in moist shade.... I tried full sun, ordinary soil. I am sure once I get them to take, they will be fine. The only one that ever came back was one I planted in the fall that came from White Flower Farm, but it sent up foiliage no flowers the first season...and that was the last I saw of it.. Oldroser, would you suggest the potted types, like they sell at the nurseries in the quart size, at this time of year? I just don't know what I am doing wrong. Even when I buy them in the pot in bud, the stem shrivels and then the plant starts to yellow and go dormant ( or die ). I figured it lost it's bud to not liking to be transplanted. I was hopefull last year. I am not giving up just yet.

JoAnn, I have Earl of Livermore poppies (vivid red/orange)that are like Godzilla. No matter how many times I think I've given them all away, they keep coming back.

I'm on the Maybrook side of Stewart Airport. I'll dig some up for you--they're very hardy.

Chatham is Columbia County just South of Albany. I forget exactly when they bloom but it is before roses so should be in a couple of weeks, maybe three. They are spreading into the lawn as usual and will need to dig some out. So come and get them!

Hi, and thank you all for your generous offers. If I am out that way in the next few weeks, I may take you up on your offers. I really appreciate your support and kindness. Thank you...JoAnn