Tree Peony ~ Unfurling For Over 3,000 Years

 Tree Peonies in the garden are a horticultural and cultural link to ancient China. Actually, early on these bodacious beauties were grown for medicinal purposes, but who could deny that they feed and heal the spirit as well. 

A small shrub that survives in my jungle of a garden, reaching up towards four feet, high above the horrid ocean of bishop's weed . . . that haunts me by day and even in my dreams.
Here are a few portraits capturing some of the many moods of our elegant Tree Peonies . . . wearing jewel-like droplets, honeybees and sometimes becoming chalices of light. 

  

  

Holding the sun and years of history within folds of petals.

Tree Peonies bloom earlier than their herbaceous cousins and retain their large woody stems even when the plant is dormant.
I am tempted to break my vow of only adding native plants to my multi-cultural gardens henceforth . . .  and sneaking a few more of China's national flowers in between some of our natives. 

Recalling Winter's White Surprise ~ Dreams of Pearly Petals

Winter white robin

absent pigments of color

feathers like petals

Time passing quickly

winter mild and not so white

dreams on milky clouds

A rare bird sighting

white gown among crabapples

wistful pearly blooms

 Magnolia stellata

fluttering snow-white petals

sweeten spring evenings

White pillow promise

plump peonies bush and tree

stippling a landscape

Snowball hydrangea 

light before white birch tree trunks

follow later on

A white time just past

April may bring new carpets

mist reflecting light

Petals and flights of birds

unfurl and arrive too soon

springs frosty freeze tease

A ghostly robin

albinism or leucism

perilous for life

It truly was a special February day, when I chanced to look out and see this beautiful bird harvesting apples with other robins. A rare sighting . . . but one in thirty-thousand . . . it is reported by Journey North. You can learn more about this phenomenon here. A white robin may be beautiful to observe but it is a danger to the robin, as it stands out in the flock and can be more easily preyed upon. 

Eyeing this white robin inspired me to dream of pearly white blooms. I did not realize then how soon many would unfurl.

The early summer heat, that pressed upon spring, melting snowdrops while tempting many magnolia blooms to cast off their protective calyx-armor, parted, as suddenly as it came and left us cold . . . dipping into temperatures of low 20's F. 

Everywhere one notes brownish tinges on early blooms within the trees. Here too, my today stellata wishes her portrait not to be seen so I share last years photos. 

A strange winter and beginning spring to go with this unique sighting of a white robin.

Our peonies are hardly even showing just now but there are many buds along with a sundry of stirrings through the delicate detritus that makes up the garden carpet. You will not find me out there digging or tidying anything up for awhile . . . just in case there are butterflies in process.
 The American woodcock is still enjoying the fields and open sky at dawn and dusk . . . I so enjoy trying to catch a glimpse of him and hearing his mating wing song.
Happiest of Aprils to All! 

In and Out of Fog, Sun and Shrubberies

Inside Top Garden Looking Out - Wisteria, Late Lilac, Viburnum plicatum facade

Outside Top Garden looking in - Viburnum plicatum

Viburnum plicatum

Viburnum floret suspended . . . unintended catch

Tree Peony

Female Baltimore Oriole and nest

Tree Swallow in nestbox

 Hawthorns Crataegus

Looking up towards Top Garden . . . Fading Lilac (brown now soon to be cut) Magnolia ever bloomer

Miss Kim Lilac over towards 'Three Graces' Crabapples and weeping Japanese Maple

Tree Wisteria (somewhat) looking over towards sad old shed

Tiger Swallowtail sipping from Korean Lilac

Tiger Swallowtail drinking the last of the Lilac nectar

Days become longer

through sun and rain fog remains

casting crystal globes

Blossoms unfurling

bright blazing heat and rainfall

painting bloom parade

Reaching for summer

busy birds and butterflies

life of a garden

Suspended in time

flowers and being are one

grateful for this way