Rapture

The anticipation as the eyes develop into lush foliage

The excitement as developing buds emerge

Counting 5 buds, 7 no, 10 on one plant! Wow!

Then crushed as the buds seem to freeze - growing no more

The warmer weather arrives again combined with a desperate attempt at feeding these crowning jewels of the garden

Gasp with utter delight as the buds unfold

Revealing such beauty within

The colours and formation of such a fantastic bloom

Photographed to treasure

Until next year - when the magic evolves all over again.

Annual Revel in Lovely-ness

I know I go on about them, but these peonies are just soo beautiful. Shame they are so short lived. Only one of my five plants is showing signs of buds - need to adjust their planting for next year.

Tulips

I am not normally attracted to orange/yellow flowers (save for the daffodil), but these tulips caught my eye - the shadow on the petals so beautiful and so elegant. I wonder what type they are?

Paeonia

My ultimate all time favourite - the peony. The wait for the blooms this year has been several weeks late due to our cold weather. Sadly none of the plants I have in pots bloomed this year - but I don't blame them as they have sadly been neglected - next year I have high hopes. So instead I was asking the local flower shop man from early May on a weekly basis when they would be in - and in recent weeks they arrived (with the best ones kept back inside of the shop)!



The scent of these filled the room:



And I always have my little helper...