It feels like early Spring --- the birds agree --- and the leaf buds are forming on the rose canes. Time to reflect on last year's growing season...
A surprise in the Japanese peony bush!
It had its usual glorious blooms:
but it also had this on the same bush:
???
I learned that the cheaper, faster growing Japanese Peony bushes have clay feet -- a regular peony root that it is grafted to. Still very pretty, although, I have read that these are not so long-lived as the true Japanese peonies. Well I will enjoy it while it lasts.
