Red Poppy Tour

Georgetown’s red poppies typically bloom mid to late March through mid to late April. Packets of seeds are available in the Visitors Center on the Square.  September through November is the best time to plant the red poppy seeds for blooming in the Spring.  Poppies grow best in direct sunlight.  To plant the seeds, sprinkle the seeds in the desired area, then water.  The plants will grow about two to three inches by December. To read a little more about the history of Georgetown’s red poppies, check out our “About” Page.

The Red Poppy flower has become an integral part of Georgetown history. A young soldier sent home seeds from Flanders’ Fields during WWI and the Red Poppies began to grow wild across Georgetown for many years. Although the flowers no longer grow wild as they once did, the citizens of Georgetown have worked diligently to preserve the City’s history and beauty by cultivating these wonderful Red Poppy flowers in locations across town, especially in Georgetown’s Historic Old Town!

Here’s a downloadable map of some of the usually reoccurring red poppy locations in Georgetown: Red Poppy Map.

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders Fields.

-John McCrae