Friday 10 May 2019

Oh you beauty....

I probably brag about this every year, but I don’t care. Take a look at the tree peony in my garden. 

It’s like a bouquet of ballerinas, all gently bobbing in their paper white tutus. Can’t tell you how much pleasure we get from it. It’s now about 24 years old and apart from some timid pruning, it’s been self managing. Just behind it - you can see a few of the buds - on the same root is a red round flowering peony, flowers in the traditional peony shape. It comes much later. Meanwhile though, we’re on tenterhooks, looking out for hail or heavy rain and cursing late frosts. They all conspire to batter this beauty and it only lasts a couple of weeks anyway. 
Excuse the fat hand, it’s just to prove the size of these blooms. Not to you, but to future readers of my scrapbooks. The more info in the photo means the less verbose the journaling, see. Not something you can benefit from as a reader of this blog!

17 comments:

Annie said...

How beautiful. We have a peony that we brought with us and it has 5 blooms this year....can’t wait for them to open.
Hugs,
Annie x

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

You are right. It IS a beauty. Most impressive. I've heard they can live over 100 years, so yours is still a young 'un.

shazsilverwolf said...

Wow Julia, that is gorgeous! I know what you mean about rain ruining them though. We have a lovely dark red Clematis- Rouge Cardinal, if you're interested- and I can guarantee every year as soon as the flowers open, we get heavy rain and it's ruined. But thats a real beauty, going on the list for inclusion when we get a new garden! Love & Hugs, Shaz X

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Beautiful xXx

Anne said...

Really stunning Julia!We have two Camellia s and every year the weather ruins them, such a shame. X

Kathryn Frantz said...

So lovely, Julia! I’ve not seen one like this. Such a big beauty! My friend in Idaho loves peonies. I plan to share this picture, o.k.?

Sue said...

Hi Julias, Simply beautiful. I see loads of brides in their gowns.

Hope you are having a fab Friday and you are looking forward to the weekend. Sue

Lindart said...

Absolutely gorgeous! Makes me happy just to look at the photo! -Lindart

Helen said...

I love peonies and look forward to seeing them each year - on your blog (and have seen in the flesh (should that be petal) too; or at Kew but I think yours is a gorgeous specimen.

Elizabeth said...

What a beauty, Julia. The white flowers are stunning. I've wanted to put one in my garden ever since I discovered a gorgeous yellow one growing in a walled garden twenty or so years ago but never had the right conditions. You've got me thinking that I just need to create the right conditions. xx

Neet said...

Oh WOW!
Hugs. Neet xx

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Wow,Julia, that really is a stunner, well done! Hope frosts amd hail stay away for several weeks.
Hugs Shaz in Oz.x

{Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

Kyla said...

ooh wow beautiful flowers and HUGE!
kyla

craftyani said...

Beautiful my daughter's wedding broquet was white peonies and deep pink roses. She managed to carry them beck from Crete but petals fell off when home. Pictures on woyww tomorrow.

Kelly said...

Those are gorgeous! I hope to have peonies again in our yard. So fragrant.

Sylvia/LittleTreasures said...

OH I love Peonies, these are spectacular. Such huge blooms.Thanks for sharing them.

Debbie Rock said...

You brag away for it is truly stunning! Love Debbie xXx