Wednesday, June 17, 2009

All Hail the Queen

All through the winter, we patiently endure the howling winds and sub-zero temperatures. It's part and parcel of living in Illinois. The change of the seasons is what makes some things incredibly special.

We put our shovels and boots away and anticipate the arrival of the Queen. My apologies to neighbor Betty, who's known in these parts as the "Queen of Everything". She, however, reigns only over the human world. In the natural sphere the Queen is peony "Sarah Bernhardt".

In spring the shoots push their way out of the ground and climb upwards, preparing for her arrival. The first buds have me giddy with excitement. And then one morning the Queen puts on her party dress.



There are layers and layers of pink petticoats, inviting you in closer to examine the details.

No couture has ever been able to consruct a frock so lovely at this.



Her scent is barely discernable, lightly sweet and spicy. Closer still she draws you in.



And then you see the dew drops on the edge of her petticoats.

She's been running in the garden as the sun rises in the east.

All hail the queen!

24 comments:

Heidi said...

She is BEAUTIFUL!! I love peonys - they remind me of my grandma!! :)they smell so sweet and warm. :) Thanks for the whiff!!

StitchinByTheLake said...

I have peonies/peonys (I can never get the spelling right!) but they sure don't/didn't looke like those. Mine are long gone here in Arkansas and they were pretty but those are more than pretty - they are truly majestic. blessings, marlene

Anonymous said...

My favorite bloom is the peony. Thanks for posting this today!

Di
The Blue Ridge Gal

Schnitzel and the Trout said...

Absolutely love peonies and now that I have none, I can enjoy them through you. Thank you so much. Please smell them for me and watch out for the ants!

JC said...

Mine just opened yesterday
The smell
Devine ...

Michelle said...

Gorgeous

Bella Della said...

Note to self- I need to plant some peony on the little farm! I love them. So beautiful!

Jenni said...

I love peonies. We just transplanted the peony bushes (pale pink, just like these) from our old house, where the renter wants a low maintenance yard she can just hire someone to mow, to this house. I hope I did it right and they come back next spring or the one after. I also transplanted the purple irises Caleb chose and planted at the old house to celebrate his kindergarten graduation.

Ang. said...

Thanks for sharing! Mine all succumbed to a late cold spell. I miss the scent and the beautiful petals. I can almost smell yours from here.

martina said...

The Queen really is a beauty. My red peonies are new, "imported" from a friends' mom's garden in Iowa. Leaves this year, hopefully blooms next year.

Jody Blue said...

Matt 6:28b-29 ...Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Unknown said...

oh and what a queen she is!!!

deb said...

So beautiful, we just dont have sunch beauty here in th desert of California, Im so jealous!

Where in the world is Jefferson City, Missouri said...

Don't you just love her. but they are gone too soon. I love her red and pink.....I wish they'd bloom all summer.

dina said...

One day I will get to have peonies in my yard, too! I love them - totally gorgeous!

Thanks for sharing!

Rue said...

Hi Suzanne :)

Peonies are so beautiful I could cry just looking at them.... okay, not really, but I do love them very very much and I did cry once when someone mowed over them not knowing what they were LOL

I'm so sorry to hear about the bad news. Maybe just maybe it'll turn out better than you think. I'll try and help if I can. just ask.

BTW, Ohio isn't so bad and you'd live in my state ;)

(((hugs)))
rue

Oh and am I EVER going to be a peep? geeeez.... LOL

Julie H said...

Beautiful! Must look into getting some.

Laura said...

Absolutely stunning!

I wonder if I could grow peonies in South Texas? It gets into the 100 degree area where I live.

Laura

Vicki's Bit-o-earth said...

I sooo envy your Peonies! Gorgeous. They don't grow in my area too well.

Red Geranium Cottage said...

Beautiful!!! Just beautiful!!!

Mary Bergfeld said...

That is a gorgeous peony. Your photo is wonderful as well.

julie king said...

lovely photos! pink peonies make me think of home and the long rows of peony bushes my mom had planted along the driveway!

Vee said...

So pretty. My peonies don't have a lick of scent this year. I'm quite sure they smelled faintly last year.

Oh you make me laugh with your description of the other mother out and about with a butcher knife. Ha!

J'Ollie Primitives said...

My dad planted peonies 30? 40? years ago. They come back every year to remind me of him. They smell heavenly!