By chance we learned that one of the two heirloom poppies we have growing in the gardens at Struan Farm came from to Piopio via a friend of one of John's sisters. She lived in the Wairarapa, had an old villa surrounded by wisteria and poppies. This sister gave some seeds to her mum Rosemary many years ago now. They continued to self seed in the gardens for years and now I save some seed heads each year to make sure they continue to bloom around the place.
It's the poppy I refer to as the "pompom" or "french poodle." Technically it may be called a double poppy. Not the one I prefer but we grow it nonetheless. The bumblebees love them.
At least now we know how they got to Piopio!
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