[Riala]

I thought I had Poppies growing in my garden... then I found this just now!

[mumofstig]

Yup that's a poppy a lovely double one ..aren't you lucky!

[joyfull]

that is so pretty 

[Riala]

It is delightful, and I have around4 or 5 groups of plants all look identical, so my garden should soon have a large purple theme running through it!

I will keep you all updated with pictures!

[BobandJack]

That's lovely, make sure you save some seeds

[Riala]

If I knew how... I would!   

[Yorkie]

When you think the head is fairly dry and before it releases all the seeds, chop it off into a paper bag or envelope, and allow the head and seeds to dry properly.  label the bag as soon as you chop 

[mumofstig]

They even come with their own shaker, how cool is that

[celjaci]

It's magnificent!

It's an Opium poppy, only an annual but should seed itself freely.
There are many variations in colour and type  but yours is more fully double than most.

[tam]

We have some like that only bright pink. I'm not sure if the seeds come true though as over the years we've have more normal ones and less pompoms.

[Riala]

So, my Poppy now looks like this... do I take it off yet?

[noshed]

I would wait until it dries a bit but that's a guess

[tam]

Wait until it goes brown, it will get little holes under the top edge and the seeds will shake out easily.

[Stripey_cat]

Also, be careful not to knock the pods about too much: that brown resin seeping out of the cut or crack is opium.  You don't get into trouble just for growing the poppies, but if the heads all end up covered in the stuff people might think you're doing it on purpose!

The head will probably get a good bit bigger before it's fully ripe, too.