I was all set for this article to be about Veterans Day poppies.    Then I discovered that, in America at least, they are generally considered Memorial Day poppies, sold to aid veterans.  But I decided to post this anyway – because right now is the time to plant the seeds for our native desert poppies in most elevations in the Southwest.

Why Poppies?

Time for some history here.  It’s got a few steps to it.   For some of you, this may be “ancient” history learned in school, but for some of us it is not ancient at all. Some of us heard our grandfathers stories of the fighting in the Great War (later called WW I). Some of us heard fathers and uncles discussing the differences between the Great War, WWII, and Korea. Then the cousins chiming in with Vietnam experiences, and, alas, the Desert Wars.    My grandfather and great uncles were gone by the Desert Wars but the comparisons went on. I pray for world peace daily.

In Flanders Fields

The practice of wearing a commemorative poppy takes its origin from the poem “In Flanders Fields,” written in May 1915 by a Canadian, John McCrae.  He was serving in Europe on the Western Front and wrote the poem after the combat death of a dear friend.    The poppies in the poem are the Flanders poppies, and they bloom in spring, covering the fields with swaths of red.  The full poem is at the end of this post.

In the wild, Flanders poppies (Papaver rhoeas) are brilliant red.    A very vivid red, with an occasional white one (albino) showing up here and there.    The four poppy petals emerge from the bud with a crumpled appearance, much like a serviceman’s fatigues after several weeks in the trenches.    Each bloom lasts only a single day, the petals scattering to the wind.    These simple, poignant, blood-red flowers grew en mass over the graves on the Western Front.   

The Flanders poppies are found not just in Flanders but in open areas all across Europe.    Found across Europe, but not native to Europe.    Evidence shows that that the species came from the warmer climates where agricultural cultivation began, somewhere in Mesopotamia.    Indeed, ancient carvings and paintings show that the Flanders poppy has a long history of symbolism and association with agricultural fertility beliefs.

Meanwhile, in most gardens, the commonly grown decorative Shirley poppy is a cultivar of the Flanders poppy.    Plant breeders have changed the basic form to varieties with multiple petals and in colors of red, pink, rose, orange and pale lavender.

After the War

In the 1920’s, after the “Great War” was over, there was no Veterans Administration (VA) and no G. I. Bill to help the returned service personnel.  There was not even the Disabled American Veterans (DAV)  So, to raise money to help veterans and their families, dedicated people including the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) began selling paper poppies made to look like the flower.    The funds thus generated were used to provide assistance, including basic food, shelter, and artificial limbs for the former servicemen.  Families left destitute by the loss of their breadwinner were also aided.   

If you do see someone offering paper poppies this Veterans Day, go ahead and get one (or more).    They are one way to show support for soldiers and their families. The poppies are mostly made of silk or plastic now but are still small enough to tuck into the buttonhole on your suit lapel. The one I got is wrapped around the strap of my purse.

Helping Those Who Served

Artificial limbs have come a long way since the First World War, yet here in 2025 they sadly remain out of financial reach of some who served and lost limbs in battle.  What?! I was shocked by this.

Yes we have a VA now, and you may think that they are caring for our veterans. This is not entirely the case. Warhorse.org shares this information  from Brooks Tucker, a former chief of staff for the VA. “The VA has built their prosthetics process and system around people who don’t need a lot of agility, basically senior veterans. So the senior veteran at home in his wheelchair or using his prosthetic at age 65 or 70 is using it at far less intensity than someone 35 or 40 – the expectations, the mindset, the activity levels are completely different.” Warhorse goes on to share other issues facing athletic young veterans with families.  So many of these active veterans simply wear out the prosthetic device that has been provided. The VA often refuses replacements.

Options

Instead of the rules bound VA, there are any number of organizations that help veterans that need adaptive devices. All manner of adaptive gardening help is available – a subject near and dear to my heart. There is also one non-profit that works only to provides adaptive home repair tools like drills and such, so the young veteran can take care of his home and family. Another helps veterans ride motorcycles again if they wish – usually three wheelers. There was a very clever ride with the wheelchair in a sort of flat side car that he could roll his chair onto.

Why I bring your attention to this situation as we near Veterans Day. I thought you might appreciate an opportunity to decide if you might wish help through one of these organizations.  I leave it to you to search and discover where you might like to share your donation.

Grow Poppies

You can easily grow Flanders poppies in the Southwest (our climate is much like that of Mesopotamia).    Ideally, plant the seeds a tad earlier in autumn with the rest of your wildflower seed, but right now should not be too late.    Treat then like any Southwest wildflower How to Plant Wildflowers – here.   

Word Nerd Note:   

It is “Veterans Day” with no apostrophe – but with an “s” at the end of “veterans.” No apostrophe because it is not a day that belongs to veterans, it is a day to honor veterans.    The date, November 11, is Armistice Day, the day the Great War ended.    In Commonwealth nations, including Canada, New Zealand and Britain, it is known as “Remembrance Day.”    In Canada especially, they commemorate the day and all veterans by reading Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae’s poem.

In Flanders Fields

By John McCrae

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.

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