Friday, May 1, 2009

Mother's Peonies

Isn't this pretty? It's one of 2 peony bushes in my Mother's backyard. I don't think peonies are suppose to do well here in Texas..but my Mother the "green thumb" has beautiful blooms!
Just look at this--is it not the most beautiful flower in the world! These are very special plants to Mother as they are pass-alongs from a lady that lived next door to Mother for years.
Bea just came over one day, told Mother she dug up 2 peony plants for her because Mother
"needed"
them. Mother took them out back and planted them...and they have been beautiful almost every spring since then.
It was not long after this gift of sharing her love of plants, that Bea moved. Some months later Mother got word that Bea had passed away. Needless to say, when spring rolls around every year and Mother sees buds on her peonies, she is reminded of her sweet neighbor.

And, every spring I get the gift of a bouquet to take home. Peonies smell almost as good as roses, and they always brighten my kitchen.




What better reminder that indeed.."friends are the flowers in the garden of life!"

11 comments:

JenningsJunk said...

Such heart warming memories! Your mother and my mother are so much alike in the green thumb department! In my much much younger days, my mother had an old pie pan filled with dirt in the house that she would stick broken plant pieces in and it just flourished. My brother and I called it the jungle :-) Living plant memories are so nice!!

Meadowview Thymes said...

jj--what a special memory-thanks for sharing that! Our Mother's along with my grandmother have that old green thumb touch. I love to garden, but I don't have quite the touch like that!

tina said...

I did not think peonies grew in Texas either and wow! They are I think the prettiest flower in the world too. Bea is the type of gardener we all need to be. Do you know to get a gardener to give up their peonies is VERY hard. It is a great honor that Bea did it voluntarily. Peonies are also a plant that signifies eternity since they are so long lived. And it is true in your mother's case with her friendship with Bea. She'll always remember, as will you.

Nola said...

Your mom's peonies are beautiful! They don't usually do well in Texas, but maybe her neighbor is watching over them. Plants passed along with love seem to thrive!

Susie said...

Linda those are beautiful! Peonies don't do well here. People buy them like crazy but they don't perform. Their blooms are lovely.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous blooms! That's a lovely way to remember a special friend. :)

Meadowview Thymes said...

Tina--such sweet words, I must pass them along to my mother.
I cannot believe year after year these peonies bloom..it is such a gift. Mother told me I need to get a start from hers...but, I'm not sure....(the yellow four o'clocks are coming up--but of course the ones I gave to Mother are doing best!) :)

Nola--you are right pass-alongs are the most special gift..including pass-along seeds!
(the pink four o'clocks are coming up!)

Susie--it's kind of sad garden centers sell things that do not survive in their area, but I guess it's a must. I know I buy things I shouldn't--I just have to give it a try! :)

Racquel, it IS a nice way to remember a friend. Have a great weekend!

Brenda Pruitt said...

Ants get to mine every year. One or two blooms blossom out and the ants are all over them. I wonder if your mother has had this problem?
Brenda

Meadowview Thymes said...

Brenda, I'll ask her and let you know.

CiNdEe's GaRdEn said...

Yay I love peonies! How do you pronounce them?(-:
Mine are almost ready to open. I am watching them closely!
Yours are just beautiful!!!!
I have a lot of passalong plants in my yard(-: I love them all(-: They remind me of the person that gave them to me when I see them bloom!
CiNdEeS' GaRdEn

Meadowview Thymes said...

Cindee--we say, pee-a-nee here in Texas. Do you pronounce it differently??
I agree with you--pass-alongs are the most special plants of all. Mother is trying to get me to get a start of her peonies..but I'm not sure if I have a good place for it. Be sure and post pictures when your start to bloom!