In the beginning…
I started this post as a “Wordless Wednesday” idea. But I just have a really hard time not adding text! So I am going to forget about the wordless Wednesday part, and I’m just going to tell you about my peony. My father-in-law divided his peony plant for me a couple of years ago. Peony are fussy, so the first year nothing happened with my plant. The second year we had (maybe) a couple of flowers. Finally, this year we have a full shrub of flowers. Good things come to those who wait! 🙂
Peony flowers
I had enough blooms on the shrub that I didn’t mind cutting some. I actually waited a bit to cut them, so they were nearing the end of their lives anyway.
Peony in a water jug
My parents live in New York, so while Skyping with my mom I showed her my peony arrangement. Maybe you heard her gasp??? You see she gave me that beautiful vase. Well, I think it is a water jug but I used it as a vase. There are two to the set. But never would she imagine that I’d actually *use* it! They are quite special to her (and now to me), and beautiful, and more than 100 years old. Honestly, they’ve sat up high on my bookshelves for way too long. It was time to bring some of that beauty into our living space. I love it. And I think the peony flowers look lovely in it.
My special (water jug?) vase
I promised my mom I’d be careful with it. The peony flowers have since faded and the vase is back up high in its safe place again…
Peony in the garden at the front gate
I still have a few peony just barely hanging on to life in the garden. Even now they are providing a lovely splash of color.
Peony with rain in mid May
I tend to take lots and lots of pictures of individual flowers and close-ups. I like to be able to really focus in on one thing! But I actually have a picture of the area around our front gates as I had been working on one of the beds this past weekend. I hate taking pictures when weeds get in the way! (that explains why so few full bed pictures…) So this is a current picture of the peony flowers. Very, very, very near the end of their lives. But oh so beautiful even still.
Peony at the gate
I wonder what flowers I will put in the special vase next?
Thanks for visiting!
Dana
Mom in the Garden 
Very nice! I love that you used the vase, it is has so much charm…perfect for those bright peonies! I love peonies too!
Hi Andrea, I’m glad I used the vase, too. And I really can’t wait to use it again now that I’ve gotten over the “it’s too good to use” idea! I’ve gathered that you do love peonies, too, from the gorgeous ones you have in your garden. I’ve added a Sarah Bernhardt light pink one to the garden this year. Can I already say that I’m looking forward to seeing its blooms next year??? 🙂 Thanks for stopping by! Dana
Your peonies are a gorgeous color! I love the vase too, and I agree that it’s good to take out special things like that and enjoy them.
Thank you Michele. I’ve added a light pink colored peony to the garden for next year which I’m hoping will (eventually) look lovely together in the vase! 🙂