The Peonies were Trashed Before I Even Saw Them

I went out early Sunday morning to trim the yew hedge and was surprised to see this mess:

We had a lot of hard rain last week which the peonies did not like. So I cut down all the fallen blooms and put them in the birdhouse vase in the shaded woodland garden.

I spent a lot of time outside Sunday and I took frequent breaks sitting at this table with a magazine and some white grape juice.


I even floated a flower in the bird bath.

I bought this Veronica spicata 'Sunny Border Blue' in 2004. I separated it last year and moved some in this spot where I want it to bloom with the red carpet lilies. It seems to like it here and should look really pretty when all the red pops out around it.

I am thrilled to no end to see buds on this ligularia (tall plant in the back with ragged-edged heart-shaped leaves.
I have been nurturing it along in a pot for a few years. I had two and one died in the ground the first year. This one almost died, too. I had just a tiny piece left. For the past two years, it has not flowered. It's called 'the rocket' because it shoots tall yellow spikes up from this nice foliage.


I am hoping the flower spikes get a couple of feet tall.