Garden Time

Here in the northwest, with all of our greens come the flowers. A few spring ones at first, all we need to feel winter leaving for good. (Well, most of the time). The tulips and irises have had their say, and now the dogwoods and rhododendrons in every imaginable color are making their presence known. Soon the daisies and hydrangeas and roses will shout their existence to us.

I love flower season. Flowers in the garden have to be one of life’s most distinct pleasures.

I have positioned the tulip as my all-time favorite. Somewhere along the way. What is not to love about the tulip, pray tell?

But, then again, the elegant hydrangeas butted in to my favorites list. The beautiful globeness of them takes my breath away. And they come in so many luscious colors and hang around for awhile. Yes, hydrangeas are my favorite.

But, oh dear, when the daisies (and their cousins the echidnas) pop out in all of their bright and childlike splendor! I could not live without daisies in my life.

But here’s the actual truth. It’s the peony. The perfect, round, layered, exquisite, and regal peony. Such a short life but a full one.

It has to be the peony.

(But, then again, oh, those stunning magnolias.)