Like many families mine was reshaped by World War 1 and World War 2. Armistice Day was always taken seriously by my family and Remembrance Sunday marked in some way. Not being church goers our observation was always more educational and thoughtful . No prayers or hymn singing unless we were caught off guard at War Memorials. I continue to observe but not be observant.

5 years ago when we lived at the actual Old Mortuary we decided to plant a small poppy field on an abandoned strip of land that ran down the side of  the Chapel of Rest. It seemed like an interesting way to mark 100 years since the end of World War 1 and would provide an appropriate backdrop to the war memorial that was adjacent to our house. Poppies grow on battlefields because damaged churned up soil are the perfect location for field poppies to thrive. Our little strip of land was not a traditional battle field but had been the dumping ground for left over tarmac or rubble from road repairs. Nature had done its very best to reclaim the land with weeds and grasses.

We just added some topsoil and seed. The project was hugely successful.

We didn’t limit ourselves to field poppies. Oriental poppies also loved the scrappy piece of land.

Poppies make the most fascinating subjects for photography and painting.

Unrelated to our gardening poppies I discovered yesterday that other artists celebrate armistice by making poppy art in November. On a windswept trip to Exmouth I discovered this slightly irreverent but beautifully site specific knitting and crochet post box topper marking Armistice Day.

May your thoughts be with you