Collecting Poppies

As the 100^th anniversary of the start of WW1 is being commemorated this week, I have been thinking about that symbol familiar to us all, the poppy.  

I first began to consider poppies, and their significance, when collecting items for a ‘poppy’ tombola as part of fund raising activities held last year to collect money for the Royal British Legion, which was celebrating its 80^th anniversary.

It was only then, as I hunted high and low in shops and car boots sales, that I began to realise just how popular poppies are as collectables. I’ve always been a bit of a sucker for a theme, and when it comes to poppy collectables the choice is vast; there is certainly no shortage of items available at all price levels, whether vintage or new. Jewellery items can range from commemorative watches with a ‘poppy’ wristband, to bracelets, brooches, rings and also crosses.

A recent search of household bits and pieces on one online site, which has over 24,000 items up for grabs, has produced curtains, bed linen, cushions, pictures and china ..... the list is endless.  

The gardeners amongst us may feel that poppies should only be seen in their natural environment, but even here there is also plenty of opportunity for variety. In addition to the traditional red poppy, the blue Himalayan poppy is increasingly popular, and packs of mixed seeds can be had for as little as 99p.

Caught up in the excitement of the moment, I have just ordered a 1940s style polka dot poppy tea dress in a show of solidarity, ready for the week ahead.

	Forgive the self-indulgence here, but poppies were the first flowers to grow on the soldiers’ graves on the battle fields of Flanders, and they also provided the inspiration behind this World War 1 poem, ‘In Flanders Fields’, by John McCrae.

In Flanders Field

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.