Peonies

Spring flowers have always been my favorites. Daffodils, Lilacs, Tulips and Peonies. Also the flowers that seem to fade the quickest, but after a long winter even their brief beauty always cheers me up. This year with the horrible pounding rains, my peonies were taking a beating outside, laying their pretty little heads on the ground in defeat as to say "No more rain, please!" The peonies and the basements of Southern Wisconsin can take no more!

When I was growing up in Union Grove Wisconsin I had peonies outside my bedroom window and I loved waking up in the spring and smelling them. When we moved into this house 11 years ago my father bought me 3 peonie bushes because he remembered that I loved them. He passed away 5 years ago, but every year when they bloom I think of him and how he remembered such a small thing, that I loved the smell of peonies. In a few days they'll dump all their pretty leaves on my desk, but for now I am taking in deep breaths and wishing away the rain.