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Larger-than-life-size sculptures of red poppy flowers in a meadow on a cloudy day.

Poppy Profusion: A Sculptural Surprise is Back at the Morris

Larger-than-life-size sculptures of red poppy flowers in a meadow on a cloudy day.
The original giant poppies, Papaver Rubrum Giganteum, designed and installed in 2008 by the late artist Gary G. Miller at Morris Arboretum & Gardens. 

In spring 2008, the Morris Arboretum & Gardens burst into bloom with something truly unexpected—300 giant red poppies swaying in the breeze across the Northwestern Meadows. This larger-than-life sculptural installation, titled Papaver Rubrum Giganteum, was created by the late artist Gary G. Miller and became a showstopping highlight of the Morris’s 75th anniversary celebration and the launch of its Always Growing capital campaign.

Positioned just inside the Stenton and Northwestern Avenue gates, the field of towering poppies captivated visitors with its surreal scale and vibrant color. Each flower reached nearly ten feet in height, crafted from aluminum sheet stock and painted in shades of red. Engineered to move with the wind, the installation transformed the serene meadow into a kinetic landscape of art and nature.

A collaboration with Woodmere Art Museum, Papaver Rubrum Giganteum reflected Miller’s passion for accessibility and public engagement. Known for his large-scale outdoor works—including The Big Nothing, Takeout to Go, Inside/Outside: Celebrating Robert Venturi, and Whirligigs—Miller brought his signature sense of playfulness and conceptual depth to the Morris for its visitors to marvel at and enjoy.

 

A man stands in a large meadow surrounded by larger-than-life-size sculptures of red poppies.
Gary G. Miller standing with his poppies in spring 2008 in front of the Pumphouse at Morris Arboretum & Gardens. 

For this year's Bees, Butterflies & Blooms: A Pollinator Paradise exhibition, we are reimagining these giant poppies, bringing them back to delight a new generation of visitors. Designed and installed by the Morris's Executive Director Bill Cullina, these towering blooms pay homage to Gary’s wonderful creative vision while celebrating the vibrant beauty of nature and the crucial role pollinators play in our ecosystem.

On view at the Morris through September 30, 2025.
The reimagined poppy installation by Morris Executive Director Bill Cullina in spring 2025.
Morris Executive Director Bill Cullina's reimagination of the poppies, designed and installed in spring 2025.