Of peonies and roses...

Last Thursday, all the peonies opened up in a one same hour… I wanted to collect a big bouquet of them to bring in, but my heart said ‘leave’ them—let them be where they are’, and thus I’m enjoying seeing them on their bushes; all smiles and filling up the garden in joyful pink dots… dark pinks and the faintest pale pinks. The ones in dark pinks may be two different variety; one plumed up with petals and a cupped, larger florets than its sister--this one with less petals and a beautiful yellow center. 

 Then on Saturday... I couldn't resist!

It was windy, and some of the beautiful peonies were knocked down to the floor under their weight... a wonderful excuse for me to finally cut them and make that bouquet I was dreaming of...

The garden looks so beautiful...

I am dancing in my skin!

 Fairies are happy too!

The other day, I caught one near the reflecting pool wearing flowers on her hair!

The human soul is hungry for beauty; we seek it everywhere - in landscape, music, art, clothes, furniture, gardening, companionship, love, religion, and in ourselves. When we experience the beautiful, there is a sense of homecoming.

I miss the frogs and spring peepers of my southern little cottage; miss their courtship songs and green responses at the onset of night, but I cannot complain. I'm finding my own special magic in this flower filled garden of our high desert… the other day I saw a round, black cat wandering the gardens.  I’d seen him here before in the winter garden, looking after the birds… and how nice the vision of it every time he visits; how very plump and happy he looks. Free to roam wherever he pleases like those feral of my yesterdays, but still loved and well cared for.

Happy yellow Columbines are showing up everywhere too!

Like some wispy fairies they dance on the wings of the faintest winds...

I have finally found a painter that has agreed to paint our home at a most reasonable of prices.  I am blessed, and excited about the idea of seeing our house renovated with freshly new paint.  Grays, and white and a marigold yellow front door!

The first roses have been slowly opening… slowly, and so fast too, because one day they are but buds ready to burst, and the following they are all already there!  Opened, and smiling, and making my little place my favorite place to be!  I will show you pictures of my first roses later, but for now, I’ll leave you some of my first rose bouquet!  Beautiful, enchanting roses from my very own garden!  I’m so lucky!    

OK, that's it!  Hope you're having a marvelous Saturday... breeze and thundery around here!