The Peonies Have Bloomed

When we moved into this house almost 35 years ago, my knowledge level of gardening, plants, flowers, trees and perennials was slim to none back then.  And it wasn't until we took a trip to England in 1989 that I totally fell in love with gardens and gardening.  Prior to that, I would plant a petunia here or there, but no thoughts or planning ever existed.  Maybe it's because those English really know how to garden but whatever it was it drew me in like a magnate.  I began studying, looking at gardening books, subscribing to various gardening magazines, going to local seminars, hanging out at nurseries and talking to the local experts to get a handle on midwest gardening.  That can be a challenge with our vast range of temps -15 to +100 degrees fahrenheit and our really awful soil....mostly clay.  I have learned over the years what works and what doesn't...unfortunately the "doesn't" can get rather costly (definitely hybrid tea roses are a no no).  I still try new plants, new trees, new perennials in hopes that they all love living in my garden, but realistically I know that not all will stick around.

But one thing that has definitely stuck around for probably 30+ years are the peonies.  Not all of them however...I planted them all along  the east side of the house, then proceeded to plant a weigelia bush right smack in the middle in front of them which grew and grew (who knew that little 2 ft bush would grow) and totally shaded out most of the peonies.  (remember that learning curve I talked about?)  I still have two, one at each end of the house that continue to return year after year and present me with beautiful, aroma filled bouquets of pink fluff and the weigelia bush also returns to bloom profusely each spring.  So, if you are a midwest gardener and want to add something to your garden, peonies and weigelia's seem to like it here and stay put for quite some time.   

Yesterday was the garden walk, snapped a few pictures but all in all kinda disappointing, except for the time spent with girlfriends.  There was no wowzer garden, nothing spectacular, but there are 2 more walks Friday & Saturday that I hope to attend...so maybe the wowzer will be among those.

Also must share this picture...last night was the "dance recital"....totally enjoyable, took another bazillion pictures, sitting on the 4th row center section (my spot for every dance recital) and will share some later....but this was after the performance.  Bailey danced the roll of the "Fairy Godmother", Sam is ticket taker and lighting man extraordinaire, Lisa the brilliant creative mind behind all the recitals, and Brie, unfortunately since she was away at college could not participate.  But that doesn't stop her from being right there in the audience cheering everyone on.  My family, love'em!!

Hope your weekend was grand...and that the week ahead will be even grander.

"There's a lot more to being a woman than being a mother, but there's one hell of a lot more to being a mother than most people suspect."  ~  Roseanne Barr

Until next time.....