Tall Poppies

[Regulus]

Got a blue sky day which I thought would be perfect for this subject.
Although I doubt the farmer set out with a colour scheme in mind when he planted and plowed, I don't think he could have done better if he had.
Opium Poppy is a common sight in Tasmania this time of year and I thought some of you might enjoy seeing the 'devil's garden'.
The red poppy appears to be a 'throw-back' to the original and un-modified poppies. They appear in sparse numbers usually but this year I notice two local fields with a large number thereof. Probably annoys the grower given his income loss he may suffer because of the alkaloid drop on his harvest.
Anyway, hope you enjoy our colourful agricultural landscape.

Trevor

[zardos123]

a very arty looking landscape, won,t see this anywhere else in Australia, although i think victoria are talking about allowing some poppy trials

[RickS]

Very colourful, Trevor. You don't see anything like that up here in Qld!

[Regulus]

Yes, it is a bit unique to Tassie, although Brad is right that Victoria are doing trials. That is down to the Alkaloid companies who have been buying in from Turkey of late although they claim there is an oversupply of the product. Tas farmers are happy to plant more but the companies want to spread out a bit.
Given the far more enormous drug problems on the 'mainland' I am surprised the companies and farmers there would want to buy into the security costs.
You can see from the photos that it isn't much of an issue here.
Trev