Pretty is as pretty does...

One of the reasons I love to garden so much is that you can plant a tiny little start of something

and when the conditions are right it will grow into a plant that year after year  rewards you

 with with beautiful blooms like these.

I am always amazed by the miracle of it all.

In February and March I can look out on the gardens and wonder again, 'how will 

it ever happen'.

How will these plants that disappear under the soil ever find their way back above 

ground to give me such pleasure as this?

The peony is one such plant.

Early in the Spring a mature peony sends up little red shoots that grow into 

a large attractive plant and then blesses the gardener with these 

gorgeous fragrant blossoms. 

So decadent and showy that it can only manage to do it once in a season.

Can you believe that there are actually gardeners out there that think they are too much of a show off

and won't even have them in their garden?

They have to be the gardeners that never cut flowers to bring indoors to enjoy!

Because yes...
the peony can make the garden look a little sad and ragged after a storm.

Their pretty heads drooping and dirty from the soil splashing up on their petals.

But sometimes they can look like this!

In my garden,
when the peonies start to bloom, there is NO chance for them to get droopy and dirty.

I cut them as soon as the bloom starts to open and fill 

container after container of this beautiful flower.

I leave very few on the bush for others to enjoy as they drive by,
but I do leave enough for color in the beds.
I'm stingy that way  : )

Just looking at them sitting so pretty lifts my spirits.

So year after year, as I watch the miracle unfold in the garden again,

I will be waiting for the peony to put on her show and be thankful

again for them and all of my plants that find the strength

to come out of their sleeping and bless this gardener.

I have several of my later peonies that have yet to bloom,

so this will be far from the end of them.

My Auten's Pride is coming on now and they are the most 

fragrant variety I have. 

I love them in the house!

Mom just gave me two of her many crocks

 and I knew exactly what I wanted to use the little one for.

It's actually quite large, but not nearly as large as the other one,

I'm still thinking of how I want to use the big one...

and it won't be for pickles.

I am an awful pickle maker : (

but I can grow things!

Thank you all  so much for letting me show off my flowers from the garden.
You are all so sweet to keep coming back to my blog and being so thoughtful.
I really appreciate you!