day 205 – four peony blossoms

When I was young, peonies to me were always a little bit nerve-wracking. As any gardener will tell you, the way that peony blossoms are coaxed out of their buds is through the help of tiny ants, which swarm and crawl all over them. Of course, I was always thrilled when they burst forth with their shades of pink and red and amber, and eternally grateful to the insects that made such beauty possible.