Sunday, May 12, 2013

Ephemera


Last year in April I begged a flower shop on Henry Street to sell me some full blown peonies like this, so I could take them to my mom in her hotel in Manhattan. She was leaving the next day, and I wanted her to see these flowers at their extravagant and fleeting best...

The shop refused.

Clearly, I have not forgotten!

I wish my mom could smell these - they are a lot like the roses that hang over the doorway, and where, just a few minutes ago, I saw a hummingbird hover for a few seconds before it darted away, as we sat eating our breakfast and drinking our coffee in the sun.


7 comments:

  1. Peonies are one of the most lovely flowers. They remind me of my grandma. There are a few flowers that I consider "grandma flowers" because they grew around her house.

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  2. I don't understand why a flower shop would refuse to sell you flowers - how strange.

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  3. Do peonies not grow well in Capetown?

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    Replies
    1. I don't think so - perhaps not cold enough, and too wet in winter...?

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  4. Did they think they were too full blown to sell?

    When our flowers are the shop get to that point I just give them away.

    Blowsy is beautiful.

    xo Jane

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    1. That;s what the woman said - but I knew that. I only needed them for a few hours of impact.

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  5. Love peonies! My plants are just starting to bud which I think is the result of the steady rain we've finally gotten. I live in Pawling which is 70 miles north and about 500 feet higher in altitude so our bloom times are later than in the city. They have been in my garden about five years and are finally fully mature. I remember someone telling me that it would take three to five years until the plants are mature enough. They were so right! The first two years we had hardly any blooms but since then bloom time is spectacular and they are the talk to the block when they bloom. The only negative is that they don't have much of a scent but I still love them. But they never remind me of grandma. I see them more has a courtesan with a fine mature beauty all ther own.

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