Maybe, just maybe winter is over in Iowa. I went out tonight and snapped pictures of my newest peonies. Not much to look at now, but they do hold promise! Yay!!

Oh yeah, ignore any little weed like creature. They will soon be the dearly departed. I don't expect much of a bloom off these new peonies, but the seem to be coming along nicely.

First up, Ray Payton

Pink Teacup

Hot Chocolate

The Fawn. This was hybridized in Iowa.

Itoh Prairie Sunshine

Nice Gal

My Single Fern Leaf

Bartzella

Garden Treasure

That is just a sampling. There are tons more, but we'll get to those when they get a bit bigger.

Ok, one more. Itoh Lemon Dream and my best garden buddy Bandit. :)

'Pink Hawaiian Coral' always gets a nice head start. She is leaps and bounds ahead of the others.

Wow, my PHC isn't anywhere close to looking like that, and it probably won't be for a few years!! Nice Mags!!

How are the peonies coming along?
I don't have flowers yet---just buds.

This was a happy wasp on Kelways Glorious yesterday.

Red Charm is showing color but it has a long way to go.

Anticipation, Anticipation
Is making me late
Is keeping me waiting....
(anyone else remember that song?)

My Roselett is blooming and my new double ferny is getting ready to pop. I'll try to remember to post pictures tonight when I get home and get them unloaded from the camera. I was out last night destroying dandylions! LOL

Destroying dandelions?????
They have a bright yellow flower that attracts bees. They are very hardy, disease and pest resistant, and tolerate both drought and wet conditions. They will grow in either sun or shade. They bloom from early spring until late autumn. They have an interesting seed head that inherently tempts children to blow on them. The leaves are even edible.
And you're destroying them?

Yeah, I have a few to destroy too! Persistent little buggers.

Yeah, and they always like to grow in the most obnoxious places.

Like everywhere!

Hey--another positive about dandelions--their long tap roots will help break up clay soil.

Sometimes they will wisely choose to reseed next to the back side of a larger plant and will stay hidden until their root "seems" 3' long! When digging it out (if you listen real hard) you will hear the faint musical taunt "naa-na-na-naa-naa" because you have unknowingly left a half inch of root in the ground which will sprout another cycle.

Okay...the word is out now....I hear voices when I'm in the garden

It's ok as long as the voices agree with you. I hate it when they argue with me. LOL