Monday, May 28, 2018

Peonies!

I planted seven varieties of peonies in the gardens.  This was an exciting year; the first time they all bloomed!  

Clarence doesn't seem to care.   



Peonies have such an old world look.  

The vase is lovely but it os also difficult for the kitties to knock over.  lol  

Back to the gardens!

Enjoy your week, friends!  

xo

Andie

74 comments:

  1. SO beautiful....I love Peonies!!!!
    ~Des

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And they are foolproof to grow!

      Delete
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  2. Am waiting to see the garden. I have several peonies, and it is a shame they go so fast. That's a good idea to bring them in. Get to see them longer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have to pull all the weeds first. lol

      Delete
    2. No you don't. Just the ones that show. Ha. I chopped down a 4x5 foot weed yesterday that I thought was going to flower. Who knew a weed could grow that big? Love the dog picture in the header.

      Delete
    3. Some of them are trying to take my cats and my child. lol

      Delete
  3. My mother's favorite flower! She would have loved your exquiaite bouquet in the antique blue-and-white Chinese vase. It is Chinese, isn't it?

    So glad your garden is doing so well this early in the season!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Freethinke! Sadly, the lilac standards did not bloom this year, likely due to late frost.
      The vase is a reproduction. It was the only one I could find with a wide enough base to keep it from being toppled by a cat. lol
      I think your mother would love the "Coral Charm" peony. The colors are magical.

      xo

      Delete
    2. How perceptive and intuitive you are, Andie! Mother loved all flowers but her favorites were those with yellow-orange coppery-coral hues.

      Never apologize for using reproductions –– especially with blue and white porcelain. When it comes to "breakables" reproductions are THE smartest way to go. };-)>

      Sorry my place is temporarily closed, but frankly it –– and I –– need a rest. There's just nothing helpful left to say about politics. We've been "stuck on stupid" there for a VERY long time. I don't know how the people who staff the ENEMEDIA can spout their poisinous nonsense in front of the cameras with a straight face. If I were they, I'd be ashamed to take my paycheck. I'm sure you know what I mean, right? ;-)

      God bless you, Andie, and please–– above all –– stay well.

      Delete
    3. I've heard from my student in Beijing that peonies are the national flower of China.

      Delete
  4. It was a good year for peonies here! I have a bouquet as well.....yours are lovely and you're right--so "old world".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have some silk blooms that will do in a pinch but there is nothing like an ACTUAL peony.

      Delete
  5. Our peonies in Maryland are blooming, too! Woo-hoo!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oddly, the peonies bloomed before the lilacs!

      Delete
  6. They are so lovely and I wish they lasted for a long time. I am sure you must of soaked them in water to remove the ants. Mine are all gone now......sadness.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't soak them. lol I am too impatient. No ants, that I can see!

      Delete
  7. Your peonies are beautiful!

    We have three types of peonies here in our yard. The six bushes came down through the family -- from my beloved aunt's mother to my aunt to me.

    This year was a wonderful year for peonies here in Northern Virginia. Except that the raging "monsoons" caused many of the blooms to be beaten to nothing. But we had so many blooms, and not all of our peony bushes bloom at once.

    My favorites here are the deep magenta ones with yellow centers. Fairly rare, I think.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love the magenta blooms as well. I read that peonies can live over 100 years!

      Delete
    2. They definitely can live that long. The bushes that we have here are over 200 years old. Of the many bushes we have (8), only one has perished in the last 45 years.

      I treasure our peonies because they have been in the family for so long.

      Delete
  8. IN HONOR of FATHER'S DAY, Sunday, June 17, 2018

    _________ A Father’s Prayer _________

    Ask not, my child, what I can do for you.
    Forgive what seems like stinginess today.
    A lot will be required to go through
    The process of discovering the right way.
    Help yourself. Don't wait for me, my child.
    Each one of us must learn to stand alone.
    Rich rewards like Love can't be beguiled,
    Seduced or bought. They must in toil be grown.
    Perhaps to you I sound a bit too stern?
    Remember that I've lived a longer time.
    A joy cannot exist until you earn
    Your way. To do it FOR you'd be a crime.
    Exacting though I seem, my little one,
    Respect me now, and –– later –– you'll have fun.


    ~ FreeThinke

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm under the spell of peonies too! Gorgeous vignette!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Replies
    1. You like this lady???? She literally calls people of color “feral”. If you support her, what does that say about you?

      Delete
  11. Beautiful pictures and wonderful Flowers. Greetings.

    ReplyDelete
  12. And, are you well?

    Your old friend FreeThinke is awfully worried about you?

    He closed his blog, but you can reach him through my blog.

    Hope to hear from you!

    ReplyDelete
  13. As imperceptibly as Grief the summer lapsed away
    Too imperceptible at last to seem like Perfidy.
    A Quietness distilled –– a Twilight long begun ––
    Or Nature spending with Herself sequestered Afternoon.

    The Dusk drew earlier in –– the Morning –– foreign –– shown ––
    A courteous, yet harrowing Grace –– as Guest who would be gone.
    And so without a Wing –– or service of a Keel ––
    Our summer made her light Escape –– into the Beautiful.


    ~ Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yiur old friend, FreeThinke, is hoping that YOU haven't made YOUR escape "Into the beautiful," Andie. It's much too soon for that.

      What would your dear family do without you? And I assure you –– the REST of us would be devastated too.

      PLEASE let us hear SOMETHING from you soon. It needn't be spectacular. We just need a little reassurance.

      Delete
    2. I am alive! So sorry. Google rearranged the way I get notices. I just saw your messages.
      I have been riding my bike 30-40 miles a day and preparing for a marathon in Spring.
      Please forgive me. I think of you often and the guilt creeps in.
      How are you, my friend?

      Delete
  14. _____ A Wry Memorial _____

    The Swarthy Ones took over;
    And made weapons of four planes.
    The riders had no cover;
    They suffered dreadful pains

    That ended once their deathtraps
    Burst into roaring fires
    Turning instantly to mere scraps––
    Cinders––made of former flyers.

    The burning towers crumpled,
    And fell into the street.
    New York was more than rumpled;
    Briefly, it knew defeat.

    The nation drew together;
    We felt collective grief.
    Anger broke its tether;
    To express it gave relief.

    But just a few years hence
    We're at each other's throats;
    We've built ourselves a fence
    Over which the Devil gloats.

    We've failed to give the orders
    To build a proper wall
    Sealing off our borders
    To the fiends who’d have us fall.

    Instead, we've made division––
    Went to war against ourselves––
    And are mired in derision
    Sparked by partisan elves,

    Who forget this blessed land
    In pursuit of powers lost
    In close elections manned
    By fraud. So, tempest-tossed

    The country is in turmoil.
    The enemy's our own.
    He says it's all for Big Oil,
    And he'll soon usurp the Throne.

    The heap of twisted rubble
    Raising toxic fumes for weeks
    No longer gives us trouble
    Because of media leaks

    Designed to throw us off the scent
    Of whom we need to blame
    And encourage ruinous dissent
    That hopes to break the frame

    That holds us all together
    And preserves our liberty,
    So many now doubt whether
    We really should be free.

    And each rabble rousing louse
    Should 'neath these words be pinned:
    "He who troubleth his own house
    Shall inherit–––the wind"


    ... FreeThnke

    ReplyDelete
  15. I measure every Grief I meet
    With narrow, probing, eyes __
    I wonder if It weighs like Mine __
    Or has an Easier size.

    I wonder if They bore it long ––
    Or did it just begin ––
    I could not tell the Date of Mine ––
    It feels so old a pain ––

    I wonder if it hurts to live ––
    And if They have to try ––
    And whether – could They choose between ––
    It would not be – to die ––

    I note that Some – gone patient long ––
    At length, renew their smile ––
    An imitation of a Light
    That has so little Oil ––

    I wonder if when Years have piled ––
    Some Thousands ––on the Harm ––
    That hurt them early –– such a lapse ––
    Could give them any Balm ––

    Or would they go on aching still
    Through Centuries of Nerve ––
    Enlightened to a larger Pain ––
    In Contrast with the Love ––

    The Grieved –– are many –– I am told ––
    There is the various Cause ––
    Death –– is but one –– and comes but once ––
    And only nails the eyes ––

    There’s Grief of Want –– and grief of Cold ––
    A sort they call “Despair” ––
    There’s Banishment from native Eyes ––
    In sight of Native Air ––

    And though I may not guess the kind ––
    Correctly –– yet to me
    A piercing Comfort it affords
    In passing Calvary ––

    To note the fashions –– of the Cross ––
    And how they’re mostly worn ––
    Still fascinated to presume
    That Some –– are like my own ––


    ... Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

    ReplyDelete
  16. POSTED as a MEMORIAL TRIBUTE to the VICTIMS of ALL the ISLAMIC MASSACRES and THE LOVED ONES THEY LEFT BEHIND


    After great pain
    A formal feeling comes
    The nerves sit ceremonious –– like tombs.

    The stiff hear questions
    Was it He that bore ––
    And yesterday –– or centuries before?

    The feet mechanical go round ––
    A wooden way
    Of ground or air or ought.

    Regardless grown ––
    A quartz contentment lie a stone.

    This is the hour of lead.
    Remembered –– if outlived ––
    As freezing persons recollect the snow.

    First chill ––
    Then stupor ––
    Then –– the letting go.


    ~ Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

    ReplyDelete
  17. To ANDIE'S FAMILY:

    IF our dear friend, Andie, is so ill she can no longer function, –– or if, God forbid, she has DIED ––, it would be a great kindness to us, her devoted online friends and fans, if someone would please let us know, so we could offer appropriate prayers and words of encouragemnet or condolence..

    I can assure you, WE CARE!

    God bless you, Andie, wherever you are!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Do not stand at my grave and weep
    
I am not there. I do not sleep. 

    I am a thousand winds that blow.
    
I am the diamond glints on snow. 

    I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
    
I am the gentle autumn rain. 

    When you awaken in the morning's hush 

    I am the swift uplifting rush 

    Of quiet birds in circled flight.
    
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
    
Do not stand at my grave and cry; 

    I am not there. I did not die.


    ~ Mary Elizabeth Frye (1905-2004)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I died for Beauty, but was scarce
    
Adjusted in the Tomb,

    When one who died for Truth was lain

    In an adjoining room.

    

He questioned softly why I failed?
    
"For Beauty," I replied.
    "And I for Truth –– the two are one;

    We brethren are," he said. 



    And so, as kinsmen met a-night,

    We talked between the rooms,

    Until the moss had reached our lips,

    And covered up our names.


    ~ Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
    Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
    For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow
    Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.

    From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
    Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
    And soonest our best men with thee do go,
    Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.

    Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
    And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell,
    And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
    And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?

    One short sleep past, we wake eternally
    And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.


    ~ John Donne (1572-1631)

    ReplyDelete
  21. You've left a long series of STUNNING Memorials to your intelligence, cretivity, vivid imagination, drive to live uncommonly well, and to your astonishingly gifted self, dear Andie, BUT I m sure those who know you. both personally, and here in the blogosphere would much prefer to hAve YOU make an appearance, and talk directly with us once again, however modestly.

    I knew you were experiencing unpleasant, very disturbing symptoms a few months back, and I've been concerned about you ever since. Unfortunately, there is no way to try to contact you other than posting here, where I feel lonelier, more isolated and more frustrated eery time I return hoping to find SOME word either FROM you or ABOUT you.

    But this is not but me, it is only about YOU, and the high hopes i still have that you and your dear family are doing well, and living happily together.

    Rest assured wherever you are that you hve been loved and appreciated very much.

    God bless!

    ReplyDelete
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    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    2. QUOTED BY AOW AT HER VETERAN'S DAY BLOG:

      Death is nothing at all.
      I have only slipped away to the next room.
      I am I and you are you.
      Whatever we were to each other,
      That, we still are.

      Call me by my old familiar name.
      Speak to me in the easy way
      which you always used.
      Put no difference into your tone.
      Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

      Laugh as we always laughed
      at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
      Play, smile, think of me. Pray for me.
      Let my name be ever the household word
      that it always was.
      Let it be spoken without effect.
      Without the trace of a shadow on it.

      Life means all that it ever meant.
      It is the same that it ever was.
      There is absolute unbroken continuity.
      Why should I be out of mind
      because I am out of sight?

      I am but waiting for you.
      For an interval.
      Somewhere. Very near.
      Just around the corner.

      All is well.

      Nothing is past; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before only better, infinitely happier and forever we will all be one together with Christ.


      ~ Henry Scott Holland

      Delete
  23. I and all your friends and followers sincerely hope you and your family DO have something for which to be thankful this year, Andie.

    We are all very sorry you don't seem able to be with us. We miss you very much.

    ReplyDelete
  24. ________ I LOVE ANTIQUING ________

    Items of delight await you where
    Lots of treasure troves each one unique
    Offer great adventure if you dare
    Value an impractical antique.
    Each of us should hope, then fondly dream,
    And search to find the things we really crave.
    No one should only drift on down the stream
    Taking “just what comes”until the Grave.
    Invest in Beauty and in Rarity.
    Question what Convention says to do.
    Undo the need to serve Familiarity.
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    Natural yearnings drive us to obtain
    Gracious riches which may ease our pain.


    ~ FreeThinke, Adventures in Antiquing (1994)

    ReplyDelete
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  31. ON THIS the DAY of HER HUBAND'S FUNERAL I OFFER AGAIN this TRBUTE to FIRST LADY BARBARA BUSH. I HOPE SHE and HER HUSBAND GEORGE are NOW HAPPILY REUNITED and WILL LIVE FOREVER in PARADISE.


    ____ Barbara Bush (1925-2018) ____

    Beloved source of character and strength.
    An asset to her family and our nation
    Refreshing for her lack of agitation.
    Barbara liived a good life of great length.
    A life patrician, gracious, down-to-earth
    Regal, yet a quintessential mother
    A fount of strong opinion like no other,
    But muted, disciplined, and tinged with mirth.
    Unusually poised in public life
    She had a kind of beauty very rare
    Happy to have prematurely aged
    Resplendent in her crown of snow white hair
    In no way mean, her mind always engaged
    Proud, yet humble,and always the ideal wife.


    ~ FreeThinke

    I WOULD HOPE TOO THAT EVERY MEMBER of this NATION WILL SET ASIDE THEIR DIFFERENCES and OFFER EMPATHY and CONDOLENCES to the BUSH FAMILY on this DAY of SOLEMN MOURNING.

    ReplyDelete
  32. The grave my little cottage is,
    ___ Where, keeping house for thee,
    I make my parlor orderly,
    ___ And lay the marble tea,

    For two divided, briefly,
    ___ A cycle, it may be,
    Till everlasting life unite
    __ In strong society.


    ~ Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)

    ReplyDelete
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  34. DEAR, ANDIE,

    THIS IS THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS, 2O18. NO ONE ELSE SEEMS TO BE TRYING TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS HERE ANYMORE OTHER THAN SPAMBOTS, BUT I WANT THOSE CLOSE TO YOU, WHOM YOU MAY HAVE LEFT BEHIND, TO KNOW THAT I, PERSONALLY, CONTINUE TO MOURN YOUR LOSS, AND STILL HOPE THAT MY WORST FEARS ABOUT YOUR FATE TURN OUT TO BE WRONG..

    MAY THE NEW YEAR (2019) BE KINDER AND MORE ENCOURAGING TO US ALL!

    ReplyDelete
  35. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Dear, Andie,

    IF in fact you really have met a tragic and untimely death, I can only say how terribly sorry I am for your husband and child. Life wll never be the same for ANY of us witnout you, but THEY must be suffering so acutely as to be inconsolable.

    Perhaps "WE."your fans don't really count for much in your family's life, –– and why shou-ld we? –– but YOU have meant a GREAT DEAL to ME –– an I'm sure many others.as well.

    I keep coming back here and posting messages hoping to find SOME Sign of Life, but Alas! none has heen forthcoming since last May.

    I miss you, dear girl, and probably always will.

    I hope you've lnded safely, and will be content wherever you are either on THIS Side, or the Other.

    ~ FreeThinke

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One full year and eght nth, since you put in an appearance ere, Andie, yet the blog remains open to new comments. I know you're still alive, because w cprresponded privately a several months ago. I know you've been persecuted as a "racist"in your local press, but hoped, unpleasant and infuriating as that must be, that wouldn't stop you from adding to the always fascinating and enlivening blog.

      PLEASE stop in and tell us you and gracie and Hansome Husband are all right.

      I know I care, and I'm sure many many others do as well.

      You have my email address, so please send m a note if you don't feel comfortable posting here anymore.

      FreeThinke

      Delete
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  39. How are you Andy ? I was thinking of you and so I came to visit. See I was looking from old posts of mine and there was the first comment on a post just from you !
    Your peonies are such gorgeous flowers and yes, they do have an old world look to them.
    I love your vignette from this post and your header. Your elegant house always wants me to keep looking for most. You have such special things, each beautiful.
    Thanks for sharing almost a year ago.
    I hope your daughter and handsome hubby and you of course, are all just fine.
    Blessings,
    Fabby

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  49. Am waiting to see the garden. I have several peonies, and it is a shame they go so fast. That's a good idea to bring them in. Get to see them longer.custom pillows

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