P52 - Week #24

Several years ago, I spent a lot of time editing photos by adding textures to them; obviously, florals are perfect for textures.  This is one of my peonies with a Kim Klassen texture and a Robert Louis Stevenson quote I found online.  Often these photos become canvases.

Peony Season -- too short

The highlight of the flowering season is when the peonies bloom.  Maybe it was because of the long, hard winter, but several of my plants didn't produce any flowers, and those that bloomed didn't have many flowers. There were only a few exceptions.  In another week, I think most of the flowers will be wilting and dropping petals. But I'll enjoy them while I can.

I'm thinking late spring....

For a change from winter and landscapes, I've chosen my favorite flower...the peony.  My late mother had a huge peony garden and I have at least 25 of my own plants.  This particular flower came for Christmas in an order that didn't work well--the freeway in this side of Oregon was closed for two days and the peonies sat in the cold in a FedEx location just an hour and a half from my home.  (I'm getting a replacement order when the weather is warmer.)  The background is the lid for a tea crate that I found at one of my favorite little "everything" shops.

Peony Heaven

Heavy, warm spring rains and early spring have produced flowers everywhere--in abundance.  Everything is a three weeks to a month early, including my peonies.  I have never had peonies before Memorial Day, until this year.  And the plants are loaded with blooms.  ( I wish all were as fragrant as the soft pink that bloomed first.)

Be Still -- Pastels

It seemed strange to pull out the pastel props for this week's Be Still assignment.  After all, it's fall-moving-into-wintertime! Golds and browns are transitioning into grays..and even white (if it snows).  But I was able to use my dried peonies from last June--the first time I've ever dried a peony.  The pretty cup, also decorated with a peony, was a gift from my sister and it was the first time I've used it as a prop, too.  Pink was just a natural choice for pastel, and the grocery store had the perfect bunch of pink Gerberas.

Edited with kk_sweet treat

Edited with kk_dusty rose

Texture Tuesday {Last of the Peonies}

I didn't read Kim's post very carefully last week; Texture Tuesday is "officially on hiatus." 

Without a doubt, peonies are the most "voluptuous" of flowers.  When I express my love for them, people often say, "But they are gone so quickly!" I didn't think so, but when my own 25 peony plants seemed to be gone in a flash, I realized that my greatest experience with peonies was in my late mother's extensive (300+ plants) peony garden.  They seemed to bloom for a month.  Of course that was because she had peonies that were early, mid and late bloomers, so the season was extended. Even then, it was sad when the last peony's petals dropped to the ground.  This week, the last of my peonies bloomed. This fall, I'm planting 10 more peonies with the hope that I can enjoy them for a longer period next summer.

Edited with Perfect Effects 8, kk_mudding

Texture Tuesday {Peony Pink}

My peonies are opening!  We've had warm days and nights, out-of-the-ordinary humidity, thunderstorms, rain and hail....and the peonies seem to be just fine with it.  For me, it's generally a surprise to see just which peony is blooming where.  Some are blooming for the first time, and I get especially excited when a variety is not only beautiful, but is fragrant, too.  Joining Kim for Texture Tuesday.

Edited with Perfect Effects 8 and kk_chaos

Floral Love {Single Peony}

I'm learning about layer masks....how did I not know earlier??  I'm joining with Mona's Floral Love.  I edited the image of the peony with Mona's "Love Letter."

Floral Love {The Center}

Almost all of my peonies have bloomed, so I need to appreciate them for the short time they last.  For Mona's Floral Love meme this week, I have a collage of centers of some of my peonies.

Loving the Floral Love

My elderly mother has a small "field" of peonies....I've photographed at least 100 different varieties this month.  This particular image is one of my favorites--and it's a peony I don't remember seeing before.  It looks as if it's lighted at the base, but that's just the shade of color. I'm joining with Mona's Floral Love today.

Flowers and Textures

I know that I could spend hours adding textures to my flower images---just something more to distract me from what I should be doing!   This is an early peony blossom from my mother's garden with RH West's texture, Lucille.

Joining a new meme on Mona's Picturesque, Floral Love. 

Peonies are Blooming!

Finally, my favorite "early" perennials are blooming.  I have around 20 different peonies, all from my mother's huge peony garden.  (She told me that she thinks she already has 100 blooming.)  The rain is so hard on the blossoms, but I'm counting on some pleasant weather for a change!   I think this is a good choice for Nancy's Your Sunday Best...here on Saturday!