The peonies are in! This will be our third summer in the house (if I am counting correctly) and it is so luxuriously rewarding to have a harvest of pink peonies from the backyard. I have two varieties, the more bulbous Sarah Bernhardt and the more loquacious, bold Itoh. Cutting them and arranging them in vases is such a treat for the eyes, and the soul.

This year, the buds arrived mid-may and really started to blossom this past weekend. They are so charming, and give me a reason to smile! I think I have enough buds this year that I may even bring some into work, to bring the smiles to my desk…

What Peonies Remind Me Of

1. My mom gave me the two Itoh plants that I have growing, so of course they remind me of her and that is why they are near and dear to my heart! She knows I love them so much.

2. Student teaching - when I finished my placement, a very kind colleague gave me a heaping bouquet of the most gorgeous white peonies as a farewell gift. It was so thoughtful.

3. The little things are the things that matter.