nce upon a time, in a garden somewhere between here and there, peony blossoms remained tightly wrapped in anticipation of their debut at the grand ball. Even the servant ants worked tirelessly and feverishly to ensure that each fold, each petal, was proper and elegant.
At last, the magic day arrived. A buzz buzzier than the buzz of bees arose in the front garden bed and the air was perfumed with the intoxicatingly sweet scent of miniature lilacs.
The peony buds unfurled in a silent explosion of color — and all creatures and passersby paused for a glimpse of the swirl of finely ruffled crinoline petals.
And as the peonies bounced and nodded in the late spring breeze, the rhododendrons, the grand dames of the garden, fanned themselves with their stamen lashes and passed whispered judgments to one another.
“Scandalous,” they gossiped about the peony dressed all in white, save for a hint of a magenta flame at the tip of one of her petals.
“Indecent,” they agreed when looking at the harlot in red, shamelessly displaying her ring of fire for the world to see.
“Oh, so lovely,” they said of the one in pink and cream pastels, their sighs hinting at a time not so long ago when all creatures and passersby paused to notice them. This magical moment, they remembered, was for the young and fanciful and they should have their season in the sun. After all, one heavy rain could wash it all away.
At that moment, the sky above exploded and peonies and rhododendrons, ants and bees looked upward — only to see a sparkling shower of climbing hydrangea starbursts.
And the garden lived happily ever after.
Nitty Gritty Dirt Man 
Peonies are one of my favorites – they are so exuberant!
Hi Ann. I do love them, but they took a beating in the recent rains. There’s always next year.
Peonies are in the top 10 of my favorite flowers! Great memories of my mother picking a bouquet of pink peonies and placing them in the living room. The fragrance was wonderful.
Hi Mary. Great to hear from you. I agree — peonies are a true garden treat, and how lovely that they’re able to stir memories. 🙂
I only wish they would last longer, It rains and they crumble like confetti. I have peonies from my grandmother, my former home, and from old neighbors that have moved with me. They are like old friends.
That’s a great way to think of peonies — old friends that come back each year. Right now, my peonies look like confetti. Wet confetti.
Cute story. I liked the ants too.
I get a little thrill when I see the ants going about their business on the peony buds. 🙂
Very creative, Kevin! And the pix are great, too! Loved this post!
Thanks! 🙂
Just gorgeous Kevin! Loving your peonies.
My blog address has changed to: http://lonadawn7.blogspot.com/
Hi Lona. I’ll update that info.
I like the harlot in red! Is she free?
I don’t think harlots are ever free. 😮
Nicely told. Thank you!
I’m glad you enjoyed the tale.
So pretty! My peonies are still in the mid-bud stage – so they are nowhere as beautiful as yours.
Loved your botanical commentary!
~Kelly
Hi Kelly. Right now, my peonies are in the end stages, with most of the petals on the ground. 😦
Oh now I feel awful. I finally gave our peony the ol’ heave-ho in the spring. It had failed to perform, I’d wagged a finger, said a few choice words & given threats of ‘the brown bin’ that would take it away if it didn’t pull its finger out.
I thought 13 years ‘waiting’ was long enough, so out it went. Now……mwaaaaaaaa!!! I shall linger longer & drool over yours 9wipe s tear form eye) 😉
JANE! That is a long time — but I think you should treat yourself to one that will give you the results you want. If not, come on over to my house next year. 🙂
Very nice creative treatment of some of the rites of spring, NGDM.
Hi Patrick. So glad you enjoyed the ball. 🙂
Beautiful story and true illustrations
Loved it!
Hi Stacy. Glad you were able to stop by and watch the show. 🙂
Cannot wait to have the peonies really bloom and open.
Hey Donna. We just received more than 4 inches of rain, thanks to Andrea — so the peonies are gone. I’m glad I took the photos when I did. Enjoy your peony season.
The peonies have not yet begun to open here — which is fine, because we’re having a rainy week. I’m hoping that they wait for the warm sunny weather on the weekend!
Hi Jean. I hope they wait until after the rain. Mine took a beating in the tropical rain from Andrea, and tomorrow’s monsoon is predicted to be just as severe.