Shop handcrafted Artisan Jewelry and Luxury Knits by Janet Bocciardi - Free shipping within the U.S.!

Posted by Janet Bocciardi on Sat, 02/16/2013 - 1:00pm in focusing on life, garden, nature, photography, photography challenge

 
Sally of the Studio Sublime gave the following photo prompt this week:
A single flower with its beauty has the ability to lift our spirits and bring a sense of happiness to our souls.   The sheer sight of flowers can evoke feelings of excitement, positivity and enhance our well being. This week take a moment to bring a little happiness
to your soul and enhance your well being.
Take a moment to enjoy the beauty of flowers.
 
I was tempted to take photos of our daffodils since a few have started sharing their sunny petals and their promise of warm weather to come definitely lifts my spirits.  
 
However, what I really wanted was a photo that represented unexpected joy.
 
 
 
The sheer number of photos I took of MY peonies last June does tell a story, but maybe I need to explain a little.  I've always loved peonies, but never thought I'd have some blooming in my own garden.  I had four that started each year with green foliage, but they never produced even one bloom.
 
 
Moving in to a new home brings garden surprises throughout the year.  On moving in day I found six peony bushes budding and blooming!  I thought pink was my favorite, but the yellow, white and dark rose were exquisite in their own way.
 
 
 
 
 
So although these are not photos inspired by Sally's prompt I hope you see the happiness these flowers have brought me!
 
We are in the process of putting together a landscape plan and I told my landscaper it was very important that they remain in the plan.  He said they weren't in their ideal spot for sun but he'd be sure to include them.  
 
 
But I'm afraid to move them!  
 
They've been thriving where they were planted.
 
 

Pink Peony

Kim Klassen's peony texture!

 
Be sure to hop on over to Sally's blog to see other posts of flowers that have brought happiness to their writers!
 
52 week badge

Comments

Peonies are such a beautiful

Submitted by Memories for Life on Sat, 02/16/2013 - 3:35pm.

Peonies are such a beautiful flower with all those petals! They're cute from all balled up to all open and sprawling!

Stunning!(no. 45 this week)

Submitted by Meeling on Sat, 02/16/2013 - 5:09pm.

Stunning!(no. 45 this week)

I'd be afraid to move them

Submitted by Beti Horvath on Sat, 02/16/2013 - 6:15pm.

I'd be afraid to move them too! You have captured the glory of these flowers beautifully!

I'm absolutely in LOVE with

Submitted by Shel on Sat, 02/16/2013 - 6:49pm.

I'm absolutely in LOVE with the pink color of your peonies!! The yellow and white are exquisite as well and the perspective of the last white one is grand! But I'm still swooning over the pink,....

I love both peonies and

Submitted by Cynthia@Ornamental Style on Sat, 02/16/2013 - 7:04pm.

I love both peonies and daffodils! Unfortunately, they don't grow here in central Florida. How special that there are peonies at your new home. It was just meant to be.

Thanx for sharing your story.

Submitted by Becky Pancake on Sat, 02/16/2013 - 7:25pm.

Thanx for sharing your story. I love peonies too. The lady across the street from my childhood home had them. Their scent is awesome.I have one bush that I planted as a start from my sister-in-law. It took a couple of years before it bloomed. Also don't kill the ants that crawl on them, my boss did that and didn't get any blooms.

i adore peonies! they are so

Submitted by Claire on Sat, 02/16/2013 - 8:10pm.

i adore peonies! they are so unashamedly exuberant - gorgeous pics!!

So beautiful! I'd be scared

Submitted by Lori @ Studio Waterstone on Sat, 02/16/2013 - 8:18pm.

So beautiful! I'd be scared to move them as well.

They are amazing flowers and

Submitted by Patty Woodland on Sat, 02/16/2013 - 8:32pm.

They are amazing flowers and these photos are beautiful

I love peopnies as well. I

Submitted by Laura Twiford on Sat, 02/16/2013 - 8:54pm.

I love peopnies as well. I have 2 in my garden from my great grandmothers garden and one of them only blooms with one flower each year and i have had them for 30 years now! I have never seen a yellow, that one is gorgeous!

Beautiful, beautiful photos!

Submitted by Annette on Sat, 02/16/2013 - 9:32pm.

Beautiful, beautiful photos! Peonies are one of my favorites. I don't blame you for not wanting to move them!

gorgeous peonies!

Submitted by Laura on Sat, 02/16/2013 - 11:56pm.

gorgeous peonies!

Oh wow, Janet, those are just

Submitted by LoriF on Sun, 02/17/2013 - 1:27am.

Oh wow, Janet, those are just spectacular! Peonies and gladiolus are my favorite flowers; we've just built a new porch out front. I think it might need a peony to set it off when the weather is right!

Pretty sure that if the

Submitted by A Polymer Penchant on Sun, 02/17/2013 - 2:46am.

Pretty sure that if the landscaper had even looked sideways at one I probably would have chased him with a shovel! Those peonies are incredible. That shot of the white one against the blue sky is especially surreal. Thank you so much for sharing, they really are inspiring

Your pictures are gorgeous.

Submitted by Mary K. McGraw on Sun, 02/17/2013 - 3:12am.

Your pictures are gorgeous. Plus i am a fan of peonies also.

Gorgeous photos!! Beautiful

Submitted by pasqueflower on Sun, 02/17/2013 - 6:36am.

Gorgeous photos!! Beautiful colors. And the closeups are amazing.

Beautiful peonies. I have

Submitted by maryharding on Sun, 02/17/2013 - 1:11pm.

Beautiful peonies. I have never grown any but I think you have inspired me. Thanks so much.

Those peonies are beautiful.

Submitted by SummersStudio on Sun, 02/17/2013 - 3:10pm.

Those peonies are beautiful. Isn't it a lovely surprise to find beautiful flowers in a new home?

I adore peonies! They are so

Submitted by Courtney on Sun, 02/17/2013 - 3:12pm.

I adore peonies! They are so elegant.

Hi Janet, No wonder you love

Submitted by Paula, Chief Bead Officer on Sun, 02/17/2013 - 4:24pm.

Hi Janet, No wonder you love peonies. I have never seen them up close and certainly not in the amazing way you have captured them. I am now a fan too!

One of my all-time favorites!

Submitted by AntiquityTravelers on Sun, 02/17/2013 - 5:43pm.

One of my all-time favorites! But how do you get them to bloom on the West coast? I thought they needed a hard winter to re-generate? I have them in my yard in CT, but never in SF? So lovely!

I love peonies. My

Submitted by Bonnie on Sun, 02/17/2013 - 7:19pm.

I love peonies. My grandmother's heritage ones are in my back yard. Yours are beautiful.

I have one peopny bush at

Submitted by Islandgirl on Mon, 02/18/2013 - 12:58am.

I have one peopny bush at home.. it came with the house. Most years it doesn't do anything I don't think it likes the salt air and the rain! But at least the deer don't eat it! Yours are lovely!

Your peonies are gorgeous!

Submitted by Karen Williams on Tue, 02/19/2013 - 1:25am.

Your peonies are gorgeous! I'd never seen peonies before moving to the midwest; I don't think they grow in Southern California. My husband's grandmother raised peonies, and now they are the flower I most associate with her.

What a beautiful and fragrant

Submitted by Marlene Cupo on Tue, 02/19/2013 - 5:27am.

What a beautiful and fragrant way to enjoy your yard. I wouldn't move them either!

I really love those peonies!

Submitted by Rdegas on Tue, 02/19/2013 - 3:48pm.

I really love those peonies! Such a delight! Thank you for sharing your unexpected joy with us. Such a treat!

Janet, if I had peonies

Submitted by Sally Russick on Thu, 02/21/2013 - 4:29pm.

Janet, if I had peonies blooming this beautiful in my yard I don't think I would move them. They are gorgeous!

If they're thriving and

Submitted by jan b. on Fri, 03/01/2013 - 1:40am.

If they're thriving and blooming, leave them be. You know the old saying ... if it ain't broke, don't fix it! They are lovely.

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
CAPTCHA
To help us prevent spam, please prove you're human by typing the words you see here.