The red Flanders poppy became the symbol of remembrance due to the fact that it was one of the few plants to survive the battlefields of the Western Front during World War 1. John McCrae, a Canadian army surgeon wrote a poem entitled ‘In Flanders Fields’ following the death of a friend killed by a shell burst in 1915. The poem was published in Punch magazine in December 1915. 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 An American woman Miss Moina Michael working for the YMCA was so impressed with the poem she started to wear a poppy as an act of remembrance, thereby starting the tradition. The idea was developed by Madame E. Guerin of France who decided to sell handmade poppies to raise money for poor children affected by the war-torn areas of Europe. The poppy was then adopted by the Royal British Legion when they became established in 1921.
Tips on growing poppies Poppies grow well in flower beds and rock gardens. They like to be in full sunlight and need to be situated in well drained, fertile soil that is not too acidic. Much of the soil in the Swansea area is of an acid nature, but this can be corrected by the addition of garden lime. The recommended amount of lime is 100 grams per square metre. Apply lime to prepared surfaces and rake in prior to seeding. Be careful when handling lime and ensure that you wear eye protection and gloves. To give your poppies the best chance of flowering for the WW1 commemoration in August, the best time to sow is in May. To sow your seed cultivate the soil with a fork or cultivator. Work in 2-4 inches of compost if the soil is poor or doesn’t drain well. Make a shallow trench or groove with a stick or trowel and scatter the seed evenly and thinly then cover the seed with a light dusting of fine soil. Don’t bury the seed too deep. Around 1cm is ideal.
Poppy Planting Guide Step 1
Step 2
Land Preparation
Sowing Dates
Fork Ground (April)
For Flowering:
Add garden lime at 10 grams per square metre and rake into surface.
In August – sow 1st or 2nd week of May
Best done 7 days prior to sowing.
In July – sow 1st or 2nd week of April
Water in with a light spray nozzle or watering can and keep the soil moist until germination which should take approximately 10 to 15 days. After germination, water the poppies only during hot weather. Feed the plants once a month during the growing season using a granular or liquid fertiliser. A suitable feed would be tomato feed. The plants should be dead-headed to promote new blooms. Be aware that if the heads are not removed and the poppies are allowed to self seed then they can be invasive and take over the garden or encroach onto neighbouring land. You will need to measure the intended area so that the correct amount of seed can be sown. Your packet will cover an area of approximately 2 square metres. * Full guide available at: www.swansea.gov.uk/ww1
Daeth pabi coch Fflandrys i fod y symbol oherwydd dyma un o’r ychydig blanhigion i oroesi ar faes y gad Ffrynt y Gorllewin yn ystod y Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf. Ysgrifennodd llawfeddyg y fyddin o Ganada, John McCrae, gerdd o’r enw ‘In Flanders Fields’ yn dilyn marwolaeth ffrind a laddwyd pan ffrwydrodd siel ym 1915. Cyhoeddwyd y gerdd gan gylchgrawn Punch ym mis Rhagfyr 1915. Roedd gwlith y bore ar dy foch Yn ddafnau arian, flodyn coch, A haul Mehefin drwy’r prynhawn Yn bwrw’i aur i’th gwpan llawn. Tithau ymhlith dy frodyr fyrdd Yn dawnsio’n hoyw ar gwrlid gwyrdd Cynefin fro dy dylwyth glan, A’th sidan wisg yn fflam o dan. Ond rhywun a didostur law A’th gipiodd o’th gynefin draw I estron fro, a chyn y wawr Syrthiaist a’th waed yn lliwio’r llawr. Roedd Americanes, Miss Moina Michael a oedd yn gweithio i YMCA yn meddwl gymaint o’r gerdd, fel y dechreuodd wisgo pabi fel gweithred o gofio, ac felly y dechreuodd y traddodiad. Datblygwyd y syniad gan Madame E. Guerin o Ffrainc, a benderfynodd werthu’r pabïau a wnaed â llaw i godi arian i’r plant tlawd yr effeithiwyd arnynt gan ardaloedd Ewrop a ddifethwyd gan y rhyfel. Yna, mabwysiadwyd y pabi gan y Lleng Brydeinig Frenhinol pan y’i sefydlwyd ym 1921.
Awgrymiadau ar dyfu pabïau Mae pabïau tyfu’n dda mewn gwelyau blodau a gerddi creigiog. Mae’r planhigion hyn yn hoffi bod yng ngolau llawn yr haul a rhaid eu gosod mewn pridd ffrwythlon sy’n draenio’n dda, nad yw’n rhy asidig. Mae llawer o’r pridd yn ardal Abertawe’n dueddu i fod yn asidig, ond gellir unioni hyn drwy ychwanegu calch gardd. Y swm cywir o galch yw 100 gram y fetr sgwâr. Taenwch galch ar yr arwyneb a baratowyd a’i racanu cyn hadu. Byddwch yn ofalus wrth drafod calch a gwnewch yn siŵr eich bod yn amddiffyn eich llygaid ac yn gwisgo menig. Er mwyn rhoi’r cyfle gorau i’r pabïau flodeuo ar gyfer dathliadau’r Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf ym mis Awst, yr amser gorau i’w hau yw mis Mai. Er mwyn hau eich hadau, paratowch y pridd gyda fforch neu amaethwr. Ychwanegwch 2-4 modfedd o gompost os yw’r pridd yn wael neu os nad yw'n draenio'n dda. Mae hadau pabi’n fach felly ychwanegwch dywod mân sych gyda’r hadau er mwyn hwyluso eu plannu. Gwnewch ffos fas neu rych gyda ffon neu drywel a gwasgarwch yr hadau’n gyfartal ac yn denau yna gorchuddiwch yr hadau gyda haenen ysgafn o bridd. Peidiwch â chladdu’r hadau’n rhy ddwfn. Tua 1cm sy’n ddelfrydol.
Canllawiau i Blannu Pabïau Cam 1
Cam 2
Paratoi’r Tir Fforchio’r Tir (mis Ebrill) Ychwanegu 10 gram o galch gardd fesul metr sgwâr a’i gribinio i wyneb y pridd Mae’n well gwneud hyn 7 niwrnod cyn hau’r hadau.
Dyddiad Hau I gael blodau ym mis: Awst – hau wythnos 1af/2il wythnos mis Mai) Gorffennaf – hau wythnos 1af/2il wythnos mis Ebrill
Ar ôl egino, rhowch ddŵr i’r pabïau yn ystod tywydd poeth. Bwydwch y planhigion unwaith y mis yn ystod y tymor tyfu gan ddefnyddio gwrtaith gronynnog neu hylif. Bwyd addas fyddai bwyd tomato. Dylid tynnu hen bennau’r planhigion i annog blodau newydd. Byddwch yn ymwybodol os na fydd yr hen bennau’n cael eu tynnu ac yn gadael i’r pabïau hunanhadu, gallant ymledu a chymryd dros gardd neu ymledu i dir cymydog. Bydd angen i chi fesur yr ardal arfaethedig fel y gellir hau’r swm cywir o hadau. Fel canllaw, bydd 6 gram o hadau’n gorchuddio ardal o oddeutu 2 fetr sgwâr. * Llyfryn llawn ar gael yn: www.abertawe.gov.uk/ww1
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Dyfrwch gyda thrwyn chwistrell ysgafn neu gan dwˆr a chadw’r pridd yn llaith nes iddynt egino. Dylai hyn gymryd tua 10 i 15 niwrnod.