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Monday 4 July 2016

Classie Time Again

Every year this time, when the peonies are in bloom,

 

I think of Classie, my husband's maternal grandmother. Classie was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, a great hostess, a fabulous cook, and a whiz at any number of crafts and sewing. She loved her garden on East Valley Road in Corner Brook, Newfoundland and grew vegetables, cherries in a little orchard and flowers. Her garden was her retreat.

 

When we moved into our home in central Newfoundland, Classie gave us two peony plants, taken from plants in her garden. The flowers were deep red, huge as a dinner plate and they grew into multi-flowering bunches. Sadly, we had to leave the plants behind in Newfoundland. In Classie's honour however, our first purchase for our new garden was a peony.

 

Over the last several years, we added several more peonies. Blossom time is highly anticipated, though incredibly brief.

 

This year again, while the buds increased our anticipation of the blooms to come, 

 

the ants feasted on the nectar which the buds secrete. 

 

Slowly the blooms unfold 

 

and the spectacle begins. 

 

The varieties of peonies vary in petal arrangement and colour, yet each is a masterpiece of nature. Classie would be pleased!

 




18 comments:

DJan said...

Just beautiful! Did you know that peonies need those ants? Check it out on Wikipedia. I love peonies, too! :-)

ADRIAN said...

Impressive flowers. The ants are fine as well.

Carola Bartz said...

First of all: delicious photos!!!
Peonies are some of my most favorite flowers. It's a bit of a struggle to grow them in our climate, nevertheless I'm still trying. They were my mom's favorite and so I planted a few in her memory. They always remind me of her. My dad's favorite was French lilac, and when he passed away I planted a couple of them as well. It gives me the feeling that they're still around in some way.

I came here to your place from Elephant's Child and I plan to come again.

Angela said...

Beautiful peonies! I planted a couple of them at our previous home (parsonage) and now I we are in a new place and so far I have not seen any peonies here. Peonies are one of my favorite flowers along with hydrangeas. I like them despite the ants.

Elephant's Child said...

Ooooh. And ahhh.
What a lovely way to remember her.
Someday I will succeed in growing peonies. Some day.

Marie Smith said...

A great example of mutualism I imagine. Love those peonies!

Marie Smith said...

Wish I could photograph the ants the way you do photos of insects, Adrian. However, I was pleased with the photos of the buds with the ants.

Marie Smith said...

Growing the plants our loved ones liked is a way to commemorate them.

Classie told me that peonies never need fertilizer so I don't fertilize them. I use mulch around them and it breaks down, enriching the soil that way.

Thank you for stopping by...

Marie Smith said...

The problem with peonies is it takes them a few years to establish themselves, at least it does here.

Marie Smith said...

Good luck with them. It takes them a few years to establish themselves after they are planted. Also I don't fertilize them. I use mulch around them which breaks down but no added fertilizer. It seems to work.

Anonymous said...

Peonies are a delight. I have several kinds, some over thirty years old that I planted after we bought our house. We are so far south some of them (the darker ones) burn up in a day or two.

How lovely that you remember Cassie when your peonies bloom. I too think of loved ones associated with different flowers. Forget me nots remind me of Mom. She would see her forget me nots and then when they bloomed, she'd say, now what are those things? She did this every year. Was she trying to teach me their names, or was she forgetful? I'll never know.

Marie Smith said...

My Newfoundland sense of humour would think your mother was joking about the forget me nots when she commented as she did.

It is good to have reminders of our loved ones!

Ginnie Hart said...

Funny that you have posted this now, Marie, because we were just given a bouquet of peony buds a couple weeks ago (from friends leaving on vacation), which have bloomed to fullness over the last week. Those tiny buds sure pack a wallop. I love this tribute you have made in honor of Classie. She would, indeed, be pleased!

Marie Smith said...

The colour and beauty from the buds is incredible really. It's peony time in the Northern hemisphere, Ginnie!

Emma Springfield said...

Peonies were my grandmother's favorite flower. And I well remember the ants crawling all over them. Now I know why they are there.

Marie Smith said...

Our grandmothers had great taste!

The Furry Gnome said...

The Peonies are just about over here.

Marie Smith said...

We are always a few weeks behind you.