The Peony and the Puppy

Roses tripled in size? No. Enjoy huge peonies whose heads droop they are so heavy. The fragrance is overwhelming. Imagine 50 roses to one peony. Heavenly.

Hanging peony in the rain with buds ready to open

We have many pink peonies in our yard, and we treasure their fragrance and soft petals. If only they would last all summer, but like all perennials they are short-lived. So we treasure them more, shake them of ants to put a few in a vase so we can smell them for several days indoors and out. Peonies are reminders of the brevity of life, of the natural ebb and flow of beauty, and of the need humans have to imbibe the fragrances of life.

Carpe diem needs to include your appreciation of every living thing in nature as well as humanity. We are all here together on a tiny ball called earth for a very short time in light years. I am a hanging peony and so are you, dear friends. We blossom and spread fragrance, droop and die. It’s an age old story of life, decline, and recycling. We are all peonies.

The peonies above are above my patio, and as soon as the rain stops—I will go for a smell and adopt a few.

Being outdoors is a gift that too many city dwellers never receive. Nature renews one’s sense of being a part of the earth and sky. Get out there and spend time alone or with your pets or family. An hour a day outside changes our perspective and takes our focus away from politics. It helps me face the rest of the day.

My latest distraction is my puppy who wants to eat the peonies and everything she smells! She’s in puppy training school this week, and we miss her. Hopefully she’ll graduate!