Save the Blue Poppy | Centenary Exhibition

Sving the Blue Poppy : A Centennial Celebration Exhibition 
May 31 to October 5, 2025 

By T.M. Glass, artist 
Alexander Reford, Curator
Marjelaine Sylvestre, Curator 

100 years ago, the Himalayan blue poppy was close to extinction.  This rare, stunningly beautiful flower was saved from extinction by the British perennial expert, Frank Kingdom-Ward with an extraordinary mission to protect the plant from medicinal hunters digging up its roots. Kingdom-Ward took many Himalayan Mountain expeditions to find blue poppy seeds, returning for more after he couldn't get them to germinate.

At last, he was able to display blue poppy flowers at the 1926 London Chelsea Garden show, which caused a sensation.  He  distributed blue poppy seeds to gardens around the world and now, 100 years later, his efforts to save the gorgeous blue poppy from extinction continues in Victoria, British Columbia, at the Butchart Gardens, Pennsylvania at Longwood Garden, in Quebec at Reford Gardens, and in Scotland at Royal Horticultural Gardens where the plants receive the special care, climate and soil needed to survive.

What makes this centennial celebration important is that earthly concerns and distress over industrial environmental issues can sideline concerns for declining treasures of the botanical world. This exhibition shines a light on how people in different parts of the world are working hard to save one tiny, endangered flower that is difficult to grow: the Himalayan Blue Poppy (botanical name: Meconopsis betonicifolia).

► Exhibition launch: Sunday, June 15th at 2:00 PM, at Estevan Lodge 

► Don't miss the artist's lecture, Tuesday, June 17th at 2:00 PM, at Estevan Lodge

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Reservation is not required.

This activity is free for the members of Les Amis des Jardins de Métis and for people who have paid their entrance fee to the Jardins de Métis.