On this first day of June, my dear wife Karen just came in from our front yard in Eastwood with one very pretty picture.

The growth burst from the peony in the corner of the front garden has been prodigious these past few weeks.

Year three for this plant has been a great one. Its first year in our ground, it looked strong and healthy, but did not yield a bloom. In year two, it gained height and pushed out its first few flowers.

Now the peony is spectacular. Three flowers are already past prime, and there are still a half dozen or so growing buds.

And then there is this striking flower, in its full glory, right this very minute.

Gorgeous.