Question
QUESTION: I did (at another location) have elegant full(3") (maybe 4")
very brilliant pink poppies that kept coming back every year.  The seed pods dried then bent over and dumped the seeds. So the seeds were "planted" (by God's plan)in the late summer or fall. I brought a cup of seeds to the new house in the country and the never took off---just died out over 2 years.
 Do you have any idea of the type or name of the poppy that I am describing. I can't seem to find the seeds on the market.

  The seeds I bot this year are not very pretty ---they're small and don't have the save kind of seed pod.  I'm not sure how to harvest the seeds.    Thanks Bob

ANSWER: Hi Bob,
Thanx for your question.  The poppy could be a wild poppy.  Can you tell me where you are located?
thx,
Tom

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The seeds came thru my sister from a friend in Carolina. Friend said to "be careful" because they were of the kind that produces opium.
Maybe that's why I can't find them on the market. I would send a picture but it was taken with film and comes up as BMP file. I could send a picture regular e mail
We are in SE Kansas  
 Bob

Answer
Hi Bob,
Thanx for the additional information.  I am in NE Kansas in the Kansas City area.  My grandmother and her family are from Mulberry, Girard and Pittsburg area in SE Kansas.  One of my best friends is from Altamont.  When I was a kid we used to go down to the farm all the time.  Good, wholesome memories and good people too.  Used to love to fish in the strip pits and the ladies would make jelly from wild blackberries!

Anyway, it sounds like you have Papaver somniferum which is the opium poppy.  Very pretty flower.

The opium is derived from unripened pods not the dried pods.  The dried seeds are actually used in culinary arts and the poppy is also known as the breadseed poppy.  You can find seeds on Amazon or eBay.

Here's some links you may find useful.

http://www.onestoppoppyshoppe.com/servlet/the-Annual-Poppy-Seeds-cln-Papaver-som

To harvest seeds wait until the flower has bloomed and the pod dries out. It should retain its seed long enough for you to notice the pod is dry and ready to be plucked.  Take the top of the pod off and gently pour and shake the pod onto a white paper plate.  The tiny black, round, seeds should come out.  Keep the seeds in a dark, cool, dry environment until you're ready to plant.  I hope this helps.
Tom