Peony Party

I really should have thrown a party.  I have the best intentions every Spring of doing just that, and then all the busyness of the season gets the best of me and I forget all about it. 

But I wanted to throw a Peony Party like Martha Stewart does.  Every Spring she celebrates the beautiful blooms bursting forth in her peony patch (which is massive, by the way) by inviting her friends over to enjoy the show--and the aroma.  The party is an annual event, as is the peony blossoming.  And if you've ever seen a peony blossom, you (and I and Martha) know that it definitely merits a celebration. 

Martha knows what she's doing.  That's why she's Martha Stewart.  And I'm obviously not...but that's okay.  So since you didn't get to attend the Peony Party that I didn't throw, I'd like to show you what you missed...

Like this incredible bubblegum pink mop of petals.  It's amazing to me how many actual petals form this bloom--thousands, I think.  But then again, math is not my strength (chocolate is, by the way.  But I'm not sure that makes sense, so pretty please just backtrack to the beginning of this paragraph and skip over anything in parenthesis.  I said please.  I'm waiting.).

Thanks.  Now we can continue...

Ooh.  Here's one that's special.  It came from my grandmother's peony patch, and it starts out blooming a very pale pink and then fades into a pure white cluster in the center.  Neat...and delicious looking, too.  But peonies aren't for snacking--they're for sniffing.  So don't be tempted to take a bite.  This one just makes me think of French pastries for some reason...

I like this magenta one a lot too, because the color is so breathtaking.  I have this growing right in front of where I park my car, so I see it every time I leave or come home.  That wasn't done on purpose, but I tell everybody it was.  It makes me seem more purposeful...but now you know the truth.  You do still love me, don't you?  Well, I'll live. 

I have plenty more peonies sprinkled around my gardens (this one's an anemone variety), and boy, when they go to blooming, it's really something to see.  And then the rainstorms come and knock them all down. 

Peony blossoms are heavy, by the way.  The stems aren't quite strong enough to hold the fully open bloom up, so the slightest weight on them--like raindrops or even a light breeze--will cause them to bend toward the earth.  But mine stayed upright pretty well this year because I managed to stake most of them before they bloomed.  Plant hoops are great for that.  You just wait for the peony shoots to start peeking out of the earth in early Spring, and then stick the hoop legs into the ground surrounding the plant.  As the peony grows, it fills in the circular grid on the hoop, and leans against it when the weather gets rough. 

Hmm.  We all could use something like that, couldn't we?  I think there's a metaphor there somewhere just waiting to be discovered.

Of course, there's always a few blooms that escape the hoop and topple to the ground, so I make good use of these rebels--I cut them and bring them inside.  And, oh my, once they are surrounded by four walls, they seem to grow even bigger.   I placed this bouquet on my dresser, and I fell asleep each night with the tantalizing aroma of peony blossoms swirling around me.  Jealous?

Well, had you shown up at my party that I didn't have, you could have sniffed them yourself.  So the blame's on you.  Ha.

It's OK, I forgive you.  How about I show you a few more sights you missed?  Here goes...

The Irises were also showing off, and this blue one just happens to be one of my favorites.  I have it growing in almost every flower patch in my yard--and I still can't get enough of it!

And here's another favorite, this deep, dark purple beauty.  It's very regal-looking, don't you think?  I've always wanted to have a royal connection, and I think this will do nicely.

And there's this marvelous maroon and gold stunner...go Mustangs, by the way.  (I bet all you Eldon natives recognize these colors.)

As long as we're talking about team colors, take a look at this snazzy specimen that my Minnesota Vikings-obsessed brother-in-law adores.  I gave him a start of this for Christmas last year...so he could think of me each time it blooms. 

What?  That's not what Christmas is about?!  Oh boy.  No wonder it hasn't bloomed for him yet.

But let's get back to the photos, because we can't forget this soft amber-hued little treat.  It's so delicate and subtle...just like me. 

A-hem. Excuse me, I needed to clear my throat.

So there you have it.  The highlight reel of the party of the year that didn't happen.  Sorry you couldn't make it, but I hope you've enjoyed the snapshots.

And next year you'd better be sure to show up.  But first, could somebody please remind me to actually throw the party to begin with?  It'll be fun once it finally happens, I just know it!