Too late for the poppies in Kumagaya this year

I visited two poppy fields yesterday in Saitama Prefecture. One in Kumagaya City and one in Konosu City. But as the crow flies they are only about a kilometer apart. The Arakawa, a really huge river, divides them. The poppies on the Konosu side of the Arakawa river were picture perfect and in full bloom. But meanwhile, the poppies on the Kumagaya side of the Arakawa were over from what I can tell! There was one small section still blooming beautifully, pictured. 

These poppies are outside a manor house, called the Nagashima Memorial Museum. I have seen them in full bloom before, two years ago, and they look stunning back-dropped by an old gate house when in full bloom. The Nagashima Memorial Museum was the family home of Kyosuke Nagashima. Mr Nagashima reportedly was once the head of the (former) Bank of Saitama. Moreover, he is said to have played a key role in the economic development of Saitama. 

The last time I visited, in 2023, there was an information board in the poppy field explaining that the poppies were planted for the first time in 2022 as a way to cheer people up during the pandemic. Evidently, they have decided to keep cheering people up! Fair play to them. They really do look beautiful when in full bloom.