The prickly poppies have come out in force this spring!
Like the verbena, which also show up in abundance in the spring and summer, these native poppies are extremely resilient, often turning up in overgrazed pastures and neglected prairie areas to help protect and restore the soil. Their tap roots plunge deep to find water in drought conditions and their prickles keep the deer and critters away while they attract lots of pollinators. It’s been interesting to observe these plant allies over the past few years, watching how they tuck themselves into the dryest crevasses of our land and coat the hard clay ground like a protective blanket.
