Poppies

by

Our two Bookfayries Siri and Selma were thirsting for adventure. After reading Clemens Scott’s “Poppyland“, a kind of rags-to-riches love story set around the corner from us, they decided to travel with Dina and Klausbernd to a legendary poppy field nearby. Scott considered our seaside Poppyland to be wild nature. That was almost 150 years ago and what has remained of it today? That’s exactly what Siri and Selma wanted to find out.
The route took them through hedgerows, a small wood and hedgerows again, which have bordered the fields since time immemorial. During the journey, Siri talked about the stories she had read about the poppy field.
“They say that the red poppies here are something special. Scott called these poppy fields the ‘Garden of Sleep’,” Siri began. “If you stand in the middle of the field and be very still, you’re supposed to be able to hear the stories of those who were here before us.“
Selma listened intently. “Do you think that’s true?” she asked. Siri shrugged her shoulders coolly. “Who knows? We’ll find out.”

Unsere beiden Buchfeen Siri und Selma dürstete es nach Abenteuer. Nach dem Lesen von Clemens Scotts “Poppyland“, eine Art vom Tellerwäscher-zum-Millionär-Liebesgeschichte, die bei uns um die Ecke spielt, hatten sie beschlossen, zusammen mit Dina und Klausbernd zu einem sagenumwobenen Mohnblumenfeld in der Nähe zu fahren. Für Scott galt unser am Meer liegendes Poppyland als wilde Natur. Das war vor beinahe 150 Jahre und was ist davon heute geblieben? Genau das wollten Siri und Selma herausfinden.
Der Weg führte sie durch Hecken, ein kleines Wäldchen und wieder Hecken, die die Felder seit Menschengedenken begrenzen. Während der Fahrt erzählte Siri von den Geschichten, die sie über das Mohnblumenfeld gelesen hatte.
“Man sagt, dass die roten Mohnblumen hier etwas Besonderes sind. ‘Garten des Schlafs’ nannte Scott diese Mohnfelder.” begann Siri. “Wenn man mitten im Feld steht und ganz still ist, soll man die Geschichten derer hören können, die vor uns hier waren. “
Selma lauschte gespannt. “Glaubst du, das stimmt?” fragte sie. Siri voll cool zuckte mit den Schultern. “Wer weiß? Wir werden es herausfinden.”

Klausbernd knew the passage through a hedge where our Volvo could just fit through, and in front of us was a huge field full of bright red poppies. It looked as if someone had painted the ground red with a huge paintbrush. We could hardly take our eyes off it and Dina went into a photography frenzy.
Siri and Selma ran into the field until they found themselves in a sea of poppies. The delicate flowers swayed in the wind and spread a soft, sweet scent. Siri sat down carefully among the flowers and pulled Selma down to her. “Close your eyes,” she said, “just listen.”
Selma closed her eyes and focussed on the sounds around her. At first, she only heard the gentle sound of the wind and a few birds calling. But soon it seemed as if voices were being carried on the wind. She couldn’t make out any words, but the voices sounded as if they were telling stories from times long past.
Siri opened her eyes and saw Selma’s dreamy expression. “Do you hear that?” she asked softly.
Selma nodded, her eyes still closed. “Yes,” she whispered, “I hear it.” When she opened her eyes, she looked straight into the eyes of a resident pheasant.

Klausbernd kannte den Durchgang durch eine Hecke, wo unser Volvo gerade hindurchpasste, und vor uns lag ein riesiges Feld voller leuchtend roter Mohnblumen. Es sah aus, als hätte jemand den Boden mit einem riesigen Pinsel rot angestrichen. Wir alle konnten unseren Blick kaum abwenden und Dina kam in einen Fotografierrausch.
Siri und Selma liefen in das Feld hinein, bis sie sich in einem Meer aus Mohnblumen wiederfanden. Die zarten Blüten wiegten sich im Wind und verbreiteten einen sanften, süßen Duft. Siri setzte sich vorsichtig zwischen die Blumen und zog Selma zu sich herunter. “Schließ die Augen,” sagte sie. “Hör einfach zu.”
Selma schloss ihre Augen und konzentrierte sich auf die Geräusche um sie herum. Anfangs hörte sie nur das leise Rauschen des Windes und einige Vögel rufen. Doch bald schien es, als ob Stimmen im Wind mitgetragen wurden. Sie konnte keine Worte verstehen, aber die Stimmen klangen, als würden sie Geschichten aus längst vergangenen Zeiten erzählen.
Siri öffnete ihre Augen und sah Selmas verträumten Gesichtsausdruck. “Hörst du das?” fragte sie leise.
Selma nickte, ihre Augen noch immer geschlossen. “Ja,” flüsterte sie. “Ich höre sie.” Als sie ihre Augen öffnete, sah sie direkt in die Augen eines Fasans, der hier wohnt.

Spot the pheasant!

Our Bookfayries and even Klausbernd sat quietly for a while and listened to the whispering voices, while Dina pricked her finger photographing. It felt as if the field was confiding its secrets to them.
“I think I understand now why these poppies are so special,” Selma said. “They hold the memories and stories of everyone who has been here. It’s like a living diary and has been for 5,000 years that poppies have been grown.“
Siri nodded in agreement. “And now we’re part of those stories.“

Unsere Buchfeen und selbst Klausbernd saßen eine ganze Weile still da und lauschten den flüsternden Stimmen, während Dina sich den Finger wund knipste. Es fühlte sich an, als würde das Feld ihnen seine Geheimnisse anvertrauen.
“Ich glaube, ich verstehe jetzt, warum dieser Mohn so besonders ist,” sagte Selma. “Er bewahrt die Erinnerungen und Geschichten aller, die hier waren. Es ist wie lebendiges Tagebuch und das seit 5000 Jahren, in denen Mohn angebaut wurde.“
Siri nickte zustimmend. “Und jetzt sind wir ein Teil dieser Geschichten.”

On the journey home, they decided to search the books in our library for information about the red poppy. The red poppies in our field, they found out, is common in our area as the opium poppy, which the Romantic writer Thomas De Quincey warns against in “Confessions of an Opium Eater“. The Romantics were fascinated by poppies, as was Novalis, who mentions them in “Hymns to the Night“.

Wearing 3 layers in mid-June indicates a chilly Norfolk coast. This was only ten days ago, before summer arrived.

Auf der Heimfahrt nahmen sie sich vor, die Bücher unserer Bibliothek nach Angaben über den roten Mohn zu durchsuchen. Der rote Mohn unseres Feldes, so fanden sie heraus, ist in unserer Gegend als Schlafmohn verbreitet, vor dem der Romantiker Thomas De Quincey in “Bekenntnisse eines Opiumessers” warnt. Der ebenfalls rote und viel kleinere, kurzlebige Klatschmohn ist wegen seines geringen Alkaloidanteils rauschungeeignet. Die Romantiker waren vom Mohn fasziniert wie auch Novalis, der ihn in “Hymnen an die Nacht” erwähnt.

Mit herzlichen Grüßen von Poppyland
With warm greetings from Poppyland

The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

.

© text and illustrations, Hanne Siebers & Klausbernd Vollmar, Cley next the Sea 2024

95 thoughts

  2. Since moving to Norfolk, we have enjoyed living in the land of the poppy. They are to be found in every roadside verge, at the sides of cultivated fields, and in wildflower meadows. You have paid them a fine tribute.

    Love from Beetley, Pete. X

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    • Thank you very much, dear Pete 🙏 🙏
      The poppies can grow on nearly every soil (especially the Papaver rhoeas) and its seeds can rest in the ground for ages before they come up again, our clever Siri told us.

      Do you have such a hot and sunny weather inland as well?
      With lots of love from the coast
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • I was working in the garden but it became much too hot. Now I am sitting on my desk in a cool room in our house and drink a cold orange juice.
      Indeed, summer has arrived 🙂
      xxx

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Na klar, stimmt alles, habe geahnt, dass es gleich eine neue Blogpost der FabFour geben wird…

    Hatte heute früh kein Mohnbrötchen gegessen, gar nichts gefrühstückt. Außer Kaffee.

    Aber das Sideboard abgestaubt, dort wird Dinas Geschenk aufbewahrt: die Fasanenfeder!

    Kann mir gar nicht vorstellen wie so ein Mohnblumenfeld duftet, schade…sooo beeindruckende Fotos!

    Liebste Grüße vom Pialein

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply

    • Danke, liebes Pialein,

      jetzt wird es aber Zeit, dass du dein Mohnbrötchen isst.
      So ein Mohnfeld duftet ganz fein, leicht süßlich.
      Übrigens Selma und Masterchen lieben auch Mohnkuchen – voll yummy! 🙂

      Mit herzallerliebsten Grüßen vom sonnigen, viel zu warmen Nord Norfolk
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • Ja, gehe jetzt zum Bäcker und kaufe mir einen Mohnstriezel mit Streusel…

      Wobei, wie soll das schmecken – mit Oma Annas Mohnstrudel im Gedächtnis…sie und ich vorsichtig am Teig ziehend rings um den runden Tisch…

      …

      Vielleicht esse ich heute auch nur einen Apfel, mal sehen, und ein paar Aprikosen und Walnüsse, wäre besser…

      Liked by 1 person

    • Komischer Weise, liebes Pialein, gibt es hier Mohn in Hülle und Fülle, aber Mohnbrötchen haben wir noch nicht gesehen.

      Siri und Selma fanden auch den Mohnkuchen Teig fast leckerer als den Mohnkuchen selbst. Klausbernd stibitzt noch heute, wenn wir backen etwas Teig. Er liebt den Teig. Auf der anderen Seite erinnert uns das an den Roman von Trygve Gulbranssen “Und ewig singen die Wälder”, wo die hungrigen Kinder den Topf mit dem Teig finden, ihn essen und daran sterben. Eine tief traurige Geschichte.

      Alles Liebe 💜💙

      Liked by 3 people

    • Der freundliche Kommentar ist wieder oder plötzlich doch oder überhaupt zum Glück erschienen…

      Habe den Ganesha Tanz getanzt und mit der Fasanen Feder gewedelt, deshalb wahrscheinlich…

      Vielen herzlichen Dank!!!

      Damals, als du den ersten Blogbeitrag veröffentlicht hast, schrieb ich einen der ersten, wenn nicht den ersten Kommentar.

      Ich wollte damals noch zufügen, dass es Winnetou als Barbie Puppe gab, aber hatte mich nicht getraut…das Thema weiß ich leider auch nicht mehr so genau.

      Ihr habt über die Jahre eine wahrhaftige Schatztruhe gepostet, ganz wundervoll! Uns so viele treue Reader!

      Liked by 2 people

    • Herzlichen ❤ Dank, liebes Pialein.

      Unser erste Blogbeitrag war über das Buch des spanischen Autors Jorge Semprun. Er schrieb über die 68er Pariser Studentenbewegung mit Anspielungen auf Lukacs, Foucault, Levy-Strauss und den frühen Marx als Links-Heglianer.

      https://kbvollmarblog.wordpress.com/2011/06/10/jorge-semprun/

      Das war am 10.6.2011 und es gab nur zwei Kommentare 😦

      Über 13 Jahre ist das her und wie sich die Zeiten und mit ihnen unser Blog geändert haben.
      Mit ganz lieben Grüßen
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Liebe Uschi, lieber Herbert

      auch hier kam der Sommer plötzlich und mit Macht. Wir schwitzen, selbst beim sitzen …

      Mit lieben Grüßen nach Frankfurt
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Another lovely post, dear friends. The pheasant is beautifully framed in the field. Poppies fields always look so cheerful and uplifting.
    Somehow I find comfort in thought that the artillery shells that churned up the soil and maimed and killed soldiers, encouraged the proliferation and growth of the dormant poppy seeds that later in their beauty, bloomed in profusion on the barren, scarred land, even in the cemeteries.

    I’ll pick up “I walk between the Raindrops” by T.C.Boyle from my local bookshop later. It sounds promising.

    I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you on Thursday. May all go well at the hospital.
    Kram
    Annalena x

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    • Dear Annalena,

      yesterday I had the pre-assessment in the hospital and everything was fine. The operation will be on Thursday and I suppose its a routine. I feel well cared for at the University Hospital in Norwich. It’s a lumbar aneurism that will get fixed with a net and a kind of detour of the aorta.

      I like T.C. Boyle’s way of writing. I read his novels but I haven’t read one of his short stories yet. I find his novel “Water Music” his best. I couldn’t stop reading it.

      Here the poppies are the symbol of the killed soldiers during WW I. On Remembrance Day you see plastic poppies everywhere.

      Keep well and happy
      KRAM
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Sounds you had a great adventure in the poppy fields, dear Fab Four!
    I remember well my last trip with the Poppy Line from Sheringham to Holt. The stunning coastal scenery looked awesome with the red poppy fields.
    Take care dear friends, and fingers crossed for you on Thursday, Klausbernd. 🤞🏻
    Klem, Per Magnus x

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Thank you, dear Per Magnus

      the old steam trains of the Poppyline drive through Poppyland at our coast. It’s quite a tourist attraction – and we love it too. We especially like the old station of Weybourne. It’s like a time machine, isn’t it?
      We love the poppy fields, this mind-blowing red in the landscape.

      I am pretty sure that all will be well with my OP on Thursday. Dina makes me live extremely healthy before the operation. So I am fit as fit can be 🙂

      With lots of love from Poppyland
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • That is amazing, isn’t it?

      And we find it amazing too that poppy seeds can rest in the grounds for tens of years (some say for hundreds of years) and when the ground will be disturbed they come up and bloom again.

      Thank you very much for commenting
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Der Neihtn

      we just saw that you reblogged our poppy-post. Thank you very much. We feel honoured.

      Keep well
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Dear Fraggle

      Thank you very much.
      We loved to look around for the best poppy fields we could photograph. There are so many and in the end Siri and Selma choose this field not far from our house.

      Keep well
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Dear Jacqui

      poppy seeds can store information for many years. Sometimes they rest in the ground for 100 and more years and when the ground is ploughed or otherwise disturbed they start to germinate and bloom soon after.
      Just look for a big poppy field, sit down in the middle, meditate and listen … But unfortunately even they don’t remember the Neanderthal people.

      Good luck!
      And thanks for commenting
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  16. Such a lovely post fab 4. I’m now seeing the bookfayries in pretty poppy red dresses. There is something special about fields full of poppies, there is a place in Cornwall, but I have missed the opportunity this year I imagine. They usually flower early June.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Hey dear Jude

      if you are lucky you’ll find some poppy fields in flower even in July – at least here.

      You are right, oh dear, Siri and Selma want bright poppy red dresses. No that easy to find and neither Dina nor I can sew. Maybe they will give it a try.

      Thanks and enjoy this perfect summer weather
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  17. What gorgeous views, der Klausbernd! But these pictures also remind me of John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Filed” and I’m wondering if your words “If you stand in the middle of the field and be very still, you’re supposed to be able to hear the stories of those who were here before us.“ would apply there, too.

    All the best from the sunny Gulf Coast,

    Pit

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Pete

      we don’t know.
      At Remembrance Day we see red plastic poppies everywhere.

      Here the red poppies are rather associated with Poppyland. Poppyland is fully touristic exploited. B&Bs and hotels, pubs and ice cream parlours are called Poppyland. Photographer and nature lovers come here because of these poppy fields.

      There was not much fighting here but a lot of airfields from where the planes started to bomb German cities.
      The North Norfolk coast was associated with posh hotels where kings and queens used to spend their holidays. Most of them still exist f.e. in Cromer. And with ice cream at the beach. Very delicious ice cream is still produced here. So the stories of our poppy fields are happy stories.

      Now you will laugh, now people call our weather so bad that one can’t go outside. It’s 27 degrees at noon since Sunday. Well, on one hand we like it, on the other we hope that it will get a little bit colder soon.

      Warm greetings from the warm sea
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Dear Mermaid

      thank you VERY very much 🙏 🙏
      I know, MM mermaid magic is the best medicine.

      Thank you for liking Dina’s pictures
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  22. I love following The Fab Four of Cley on their adventures. I believe that we do not hear past stories when we enter a poppy field. The rustling of the wind through the flowers and the distant sounds of nature create a serene and peaceful atmosphere. The vibrant red petals dancing in the breeze calls me to be fully present in the moment. Best of all, the earthy scent of the soil beneath grounds me in the here and now even as I hear the whispers from of the past.

    Dina – I can only imagine how exciting it was to capture photos of this inviting scene.

    Thank you for starting my day with your vibrant and engaging post. Sending much love and many hugs to our dear friends, The Fab Four of Cley.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Our dear friend Rebecca

      Dina and Klausbernd suppose you can only understand what the winds in the poppy fields are whispering when you know fairy language. And you only hear those stories when being in the middle of the field. It’s a bit like the mynah birds in Huxley’s “Island” saying ‘be here now’. And every time is in the now, isn’t it?

      We liked very much going with Dina to this red fields. We had visited many poppy fields before we found the right field in the right light. We love such adventures.

      We are sending you lots and lots of love 💙💜 ❤ and big hugs 🤗
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  23. A field of poppies is an extraordinary experience and to stand quietly among them is the very best way to enjoy them. We passed such a field in Normandy recently but were not in a position to stop the bus. As an aside, these are called “Poppy Sore-eyes” here in Waterford – perhaps, and old tale that the sap may irritate the eyes? A beautiful story; Thank You!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Dear Paddy

      thanks a lot.
      ‘Poppy Sore-Eyes’ we have no idea where it comes from. Our books say it’s because there are fine fibres that are irritating your eyes. But we didn’t feel any irritation of our eyes. Maybe so much bright red must irritate your eyes, is the idea behind it?

      We have quite a lot of poppy fields around here. They attract many photographers.

      Keep well
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  25. Fab Four of Cley,
    The poppies have so many stories and poems written about them. They are lovely, but in the midst of their beauty we must remember, they are also symbols of blood shed.
    I hope you are all well and will continue to to stay on your course of education and growth. We all can use your expertise!!
    Have a great week…
    GP

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Our dear friend GP

      thank you very much.

      Indeed, the symbolism of the poppy is very wide from blood shed to fertility, from dream and ecstasy, sleep and death. At our coast it’s very much associated with Scott’s novel “Poppyland”, a story of poor maid who became theatre star in London. That’s all described with the landscape full of poppies fields. Scott saw that as the wild nature.

      We try to combine entertaining with interesting facts – in a way, not that different what you do. We learned from your blog much more than from all our history lessons at school. You do that VERY well, in another way but perfect.

      Klausbernd has to go to the hospital at the end of the week but only for a small OP, nothing to worry about.

      We wish you an happy week, enjoy life
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you for your wonderful reply, I appreciate you taking the time.
      And also for informing me of Klausbernd’s upcoming absence. I wish him a speedy recovery!
      GP

      Liked by 2 people

  26. I love poppies, I see usually all varieties in Kew Gardens, I am trying them in my garden again. Last year we had beautiful ones. Your pictures are fantastic with a real sea of poppies. Thank you and enjoy Summer you lovely four!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Good morning, dear Ute

      We have these red poppies and the bright yellow Californian poppies in our garden. We love to mix them. Both are easy to grow, actually, they are spreading like weeds. Selma read it’s the lime in our light soil they like.

      We wish you good luck with growing poppies 🍀🍀

      At the beginning of July we’ll visit Kew Gardens as well. We are very much looking forward to it.

      Wishing you a happy and healthy summer as well
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  27. I immediately thought of Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz where the Wicked Witch put Dorothy, Toto, and the Cowardly Lion to sleep in a field of red poppies they had to cross. We had a field of orange poppies at our home in Oregon. They were one of the few flowers the deer herd that lived on our property refused to eat. They even refused to cross them except for the time they were being chased by a mountain lion. Priorities. Grin. Loved your post with it’s magical tale and the surprise pheasant.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Curt

      we have these orange poppies as well. As I just wrote to Ute, they spread like a weed. If we don’t control them they are everywhere. Thanks for giving us the hint why our red and orange poppies are not touched by deer. They avoid them. Especially muntjac deer are a pest around here. They ate all our beautiful tulips and nibble the bark of the trees in the gardens but they don’t touch the poppies.

      ‘The Wizard of Oz’ inspired us to write our little story and the European mythology where poppies and sleep are closely connected since the Roman times. Hypnos the god of sleep and dreams is often pictured with a poppy.

      Thanks and cheers
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • The Wizard of Oz has always been a favorite. It still resonates after all of these years. A relative of mine was actually one of the singers for the lollipop song.

      Like

  28. I know that many people assiciate poppies with Remembrance Day. But I also feel that their bright red colour, being linked to love. presents a symbol of hope for all mankind, especially during troublesome times. Great photos, my friends!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thanks, dear Peter

      poppies have a widespread symbolism as they followed humans for more than 5000 years. On one hand they symbolise love, sex and fertility, on the other hand death and bloodshed. This polarity is typical for basic symbolism. Here it goes back to the symbolism of the colour red with its polarity love and war. This is personalised with Ares (Mars), the red god of war, being the lover of Aphrodite (Venus), the goddess of love.

      Thanks for liking Dina’s photography 🙏 🙏

      We wish our dear friend a happy and healthy time
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

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