Stages

I can't decide which stage of a poppy life is my favourite.
Is it when when they just grow their buds that face down and all the petals are hiding on those green, hairy shells.

Or is it the most showy time when they finally open and show off their delicate, crinkly petals?

Or the time when it is almost all over and the pods start to form with seeds to make sure the next year they come back again.

For photography purposes I think the best is the last. I absolutely adore the pods. The fresh ones like here when the stamens still look nice around it.
And the more mature ones when they finally dry up and slowly open to sprinkle the tiny seeds around.
Very photogenic!

Lets go backwards a little.
The poppies I was shooting grow at my mums garden and they are gigantic! Nothing like those little wild ones.

And a little more.
The Buds :)
Much larger, plump and shiny.