A sea of red poppies @ the Tower of London.

And as of todaŷ you can buy one of these poppies.

Yes, best left all together for us to ponder on.

I have ordered one because it will be dismantled after Nov.11th. and the money raised is being split between 6 deserving charities.

Oh how lovely, thanks for showing it I wouldn't have known.....

This was I our daily morning paper today Pam and yesterday I paper you could get free red poppie plugs with just postage and packing.

What a brilliant display so poignant thank you for sharing it Grandmage

You are welcome Neellan & Pam, it was a beautiful site, I am so glad we decided to go and actually see it instead of just pictures in the newspapers.

Just think what might have been Snoop........

I saw a photo on Facebook, would love to go and actually see it in London, our town held a Comemmorative Events in Broad Street in front of the War Memorial, it was quite something listening to the young children singing the war songs, Pams right Steve, you could say that about all wars everywhere but some of the other options don't bear thinking about.......

And so it has been all through history - a few men get power mad and the rest suffer. Remember "Where have all the flowers gone ...when will they ever learn?"

Imagine thinking up this display with blood pouring from the window - and still the slaughter goes on- and on.

I sowed poppies in several places and got one plant only, and that was in the veg bed!

A very moving photo ... :)

Thanks Hywel, it was a moving experience.
Stera I planted a whole packet of red poppies and got none :( at least this display will be seen right up til November for all to view.

Very beautiful but I cannot help thinking - why do we celebrate the outbreak of war? I know that thousands and thousands of people died for us but surely we should be celebrating in four years time the end of the 'Great War'. But after saying that I am grateful for what the men and women did for us all and this artwork is so very beautiful, very emotive, just maybe one day maybe there will be peace in all countries.

I planted a whole packet and got nothing.......an amazing photograph GM....thanks for showing us...

Poppies are funny like that they will probably pop up in a year or two somewhere you didn't sow them. Perhaps we'll have them in time for 1918 instead.

I think they are commemorating not celebrating, its a fine line and not made clear enough I think.

I feel just the same about the futility of war and the awful news we see daily.
I can't watch it, does it need to be so graphic do you think?

it makes me feel helpless and worry how its affecting the youngsters who can't help but see it.......

Exactly Pamg - my daughter is pregnant and I cannot help but remember when I was pregnant with my first it was the time of the standoff with America and Cuba and they leafleted us on how to avoid the aftermath of an atomic attack. I was so worried around that time, now I have stopped watching the news because it is all about war war war and people killing people and for what - a bit of land. I know they have their causes and their rights but surely in this day and age and with all the communications aids we can talk to one another without blowing each other up.

As a species Man has not progressed at all, just created more and more deadly weapons its depressing until you hear stories of heroism and kindness
its the futility that saddens me......

"Oh what made fatuous sunbeams toil
To break earth's sleep at all?" - Wilfred Owen (from
Futility - the one that starts "Move him into the sun")

I just looked it up and found Anthem for a doomed youth......
says it all really....

Stera..........''Think how it wakes the seeds'' from Futility..........Lol.... maybe our poppies will grow after all !!! This photo of mine was to show the commemoration of the start of a terrible happening and how they have depicted it at the tower using the poppy that grows on Flanders fields, the kids today study WW1 at secondary and will learn about it in depth they need to know what sacrifices were made so it is never forgotten.
Thanks Dd. :)

Hope you do not think I was being critical of you Grandmage the picture is beautiful, just I hate the thought of all that killing, I do so much appreciate the efforts and sacrifices that were done and given for us all. Thank you for putting on the picture it is very very thought provoking. My youngest studied the Wars in History and she found it fascinating. She enjoyed the history of it all but like me she found it so sad. They took a trip over to Belgium to see the war graves and to the Menin Gate to hear the bugler sound the Last Post. She was absolutely distraught, something she will never ever forget, it left a lasting impression for her. So sad that all those lives were lost. Thanks again for posting such a beautiful picture. :O)

NO....Oliveoil not at all..........by posting this photo I just thought everyone would like to see the 'sea' but didnt imagine it would stir up so much emotion! But suppose that was inevitable. I'm sorry your youngest was distraught but we didn't see the Menin gate and the war graves until recently so I cannot imagine what the sight did to a youngster. I have been doing our family history for many years and these things fascinate me, I found it a comfort to see relatives final resting places but I know a youngster would find that disturbing. I think one doesn't understand until you reach a certain age! :) Don't worry now...honestly.

Thanks Grandmage, pleased its all ok. :O)

It certainly is :)

Our grandchildren are learning all about the war they are five and seven, they were asking OH which war he was alive in lol

Lol Dd, they are so innocent aren't they? Funny you should mention this as I have just remembered that our grandson he is 7 now, had to draw a WW1 soldier and write down what he was wearing then compare him to today's soldiers. He enjoyed the work as he did it with me.

Yes our grandchildren have been fascinated by the whole thing, too young to understand the true misery, hardship, and utter waste of young lives....

In a way I'm glad they don't know Dd. :)

I sometimes wonder how much children understand , with the computer games about wars and violent tv programmes, then the awful scenes on the newsand newspapers, how do they tell the difference between fiction and reality?

except people like your daughter Olive who really understands bless her x