Peonies

“ How welcome the first blooms of spring.“

C e Hollis

Spring has arrived and the peonies leaf out and form buds in the first weeks of warm days. The nights are still cold and the morning lawns are lightly frosted like cakes with confectioner’s sugar. After the frosts are safely past the buds burst open to surprise us all.

Hummingbirds come home for the summer and hover at the glass globes of feeders. Peonies show their ruffles like beginner ballerinas in pink tutus. Golden crowns top their petals attracting honey bees and ants. Their nectar must be sweet.

The sun shines bright and heats up the afternoons. The evenings still calling for long sleeves or a sweater. There are windy days and on the porch chimes clash and clange instead of tinkling. Thunder rumbles and rain falls. Water runs in the ditches and down the window panes.

Pink, burgundy, white, and rose cut for a vase to decorate the windowsill or the supper table bring a sigh of gratitude and a smile to every winter weary face. Spring has come and with it the peonies.

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But the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Psalm 96:5-6

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