Can someone tell me what this flower is?

[gonerogue]

This plant/flower popped up in my garden in the last week. It now looks like there is a bud appearing from the middle of the flower too.

I think it's very pretty but I don't heave a clue what it is - any idea?

Thanks

[oddslippers]

It looks like an Oriental poppy, very pretty

[gonerogue]

Oh thanks oddslippers - I've only ever heard of normal poppies.

I have no idea where it came from but will keep it. :-)

[ElephantsNeverForgive]

Yep, oriental poppy.

Like field poppies, they self seed and germinate if their seeds are exposed to light.

Thus if any past owner has ever planted them, they can appear totally at random.

I've had them in mole hills in the lawn.

[PetulaGordino]

Looks a bit like a ranunculus to me, but I.'me not brilliant witch flowers tbh

[gonerogue]

So me digging out the bed will have woken them up.
Thanks for the answers

[steppemum]

definitely a poppy. I thought they were called ornamental?

field poppies are small and delicate, these ones are much bigger and stronger and flowers last longer.

They are annuals, so they will only last this year BUT they are fabulous self seeders. Leave the seed heads on till ripe (the seeds rattle if you shake them) Then shake the seed head into a bowl/bag. Then either spread the seeds now where you want them next year, or save them and spread the seeds in the spring.

[CocktailQueen]

Yy to poppies and self seeding! We have loads this year, haven't had them before.

[gonerogue]

OH thanks Steppemum

now when you say seedhead (Sorry I am clueless) is that the green bud-like thing that is coming up on the bloom at the moment? So I need to wait for that to ripen and then I can spread the seeds all over my bed and have gorgeous flowers next summer in the spaces between my shrubs.

[PetulaGordino]

poppy seedheads look like this, and form after the flower has gone. they dry out and go rattly and that's when the seed is spread

[gonerogue]

Ah ok thanks for that Petula. As I said clueless

[hellymelly]

It isn't an oriental poppy, (papaver orientale) it is an opium poppy (papaver somniferum). There are lots of fancy types and that is my favourite, but for some infernal reason it refuses to grow in my garden. I am

[hellymelly]

The orientals have greener, hairier leaves, and they are perennial (they come back every year) The opium types are annuals, so will die off and hopefully spread seed about, so you will get them in different places every year.

[gonerogue]

Thanks Hellymelly