Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Peonies and Poppies

The Peonies are beginning to open.
We have four different varieties growing in the gardens.

I hope to have some to decorate the graves this coming weekend.
I will need twenty bouquets this year.

The Poppies continue to open.

I could do Poppies too.

14 comments:

Lisa at Greenbow said...

My poppy is almost open. I am so excited. Just seeing yours makes me even more excited.

Peonies are just the best. I don't have any so I have to just sniff and look at the ones where I work. They are just buds yet. We need some good ole sunshine and warmer temps. Hopefully this week the clouds will go away and the sun will warm up everything in the garden. I mean even my DB hasn't had to mow for over a week because even the grass is just sitting there waiting for some sunshine.

Q said...

Dear Lisa,
I hope you take lots of pictures.
I have grown Iceland Poppies before and they are very pretty. Did not do them this year.
The Peonies that I grow are very old. These pictured were from an old High School in K.C. When my husband remolded the school he brought the peonies home rather than have them go to the trash.
I have some others that were given to me, bare roots and in July!
I was amazed they made it.
The gardens are fun and full of stories.
This has been a delightfully cool spring. I need some rain now.
Looking forard to seeing your poppies!
Sherry

nina at Nature Remains. said...

This weekend should be beautiful!

Mary said...

So much color to look forward to! This is sure a far cry from last Spring, isn't it Sherry?

Anonymous said...

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

So near memorial day and I thought this poem nicely describes the pictures.

Jayne said...

I love the peonies and may just have to get myself one! Beautiful Sherry!

Cheryl said...

Beautiful blooms with such intense colour.
My poppies and peonies are both late. It is still cold here......so pleased to see your blooms.

smilnsigh said...

Your blooms are well ahead of ours. Can't wait for our pink poppies.

It took E. so long to be able to grow some for me. And now, they are so happy and spreading. :-)

Mari-Nanci

Q said...

Dear Nina,
I hope so! I checked after the rain this morning and I will have plenty of peonies to decorate the graves with!
It will the first time in many, many years that the peonies bloomed so late.
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Mary,
Last year these very same peonies bloomed the first of April. I have pictures of them in bloom covered in ice!
It was so sad.
This has been a lovely, cool spring. The blooms are staying on for weeks and the gardens are so pretty.
Thank goodness some of my plants have made it to bloom again.
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Scienceguy288,
Thank you! I always think of this poem too.
May we remember those who died and honor them.
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Jayne,
The peony is my flower to celebrate in 2008.
I think they are very pretty flowers and the bushes are nice all growing season. They are nice cut too for Memorial Day decorations.
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Cheryl,
I am so glad mine are this late this year. Years ago the peony was the flower I always took to the cemetries. For some reason they started blooming earlier and earlier so that by Memeorial Day they were spent.
I counted today and I have enough blooms for all the graves.
All I need to do now is make bows!
Sherry

Q said...

Dear Mari-Nanci,
Pink poppies?? Are they Iceland Poppies? I have heard of the blue poppy. It is very difficult to grow I read. I bet it is beautiful!
Enjoy your poppies. Hope you post some pictures.
Sherry