Peony time!

I suspected that we'd be greeted by newly opened peony blooms when we returned from our little trip yesterday.

Welcome home!

Correct! Only two blooms so far, but the bushes are very full of buds and I can't wait to get sick of these things again. The big difference this year is the absence of the old ash tree, which we had removed in the fall due to an emerald ash borer infestation. The ash shaded the two bushes near the garage and driveway, delaying their deep magenta blooms until nearly late June. I liked the natural staggering in the blooming of the four plants because it gave me flowers for an entire month. Now, I'll have pale pink, pepto pink, and deep magenta probably all at the same time, though only the pepto plant popped while we were gone.