AMERICA - The Right Way!! (Day 547) [Remember the Trade Center!!]

Various News Sources and FReepers | July 21, 2002 | All of Us

[Miss Marple]

These bloom in my state, Indiana, in late May or early June. They are NORMALLY quite hardy, and live for decades if NOT CUT DOWN.

The peony is the state flower of Indiana. They have a fragrant smell and are quite beautiful, if allowed to live and NOT CUT DOWN.

[Radix]

Thank You! Unfortunately,radixionary does not come with pictures.

[Purdue Pete]

Hmmm...how to explain the wondrous peony...I am technically challenged, therefore cannot post a picture. In the old days, nearly every yard had at least a couple of peony bushes, and I associate them with Grandma's house, Great Aunt Opal's house, Mom's house, the neighbor's house, and childhood in general.

Every Memorial Day included a trip to place huge containers of peonies on the graves of all the relatives. I've lived only in Indiana and Ohio, so I don't know whether they are as popular in other parts of the country, but here, they're everywhere.

Aren't you sorry you asked? :-)

[Miss Marple]

Well, they are everywhere here EXCEPT IN MY FLOWER BED.

[illstillbe]

#54 and 59

SMKs ... (Smackin' My Knees) ... Radix ... you worry too much ... this is a CAYABYBCHGFCIJY thread ...

Come As You ARE,Bring Your Brain, Commitment, Humor, Generosity, Fellowship,Conservatism, Insights ... Just YOU, thread.

Not, always, in that order. I have simply ... which is never simple ... been enjoying your company!

Peonies ... my neighbor insists on calling them Peeeeoooowneees

This plant represents a perfect example of Mother Nature's slendid dance ... frequently, in order for its most magnificent ... pretty enough to nearly take your breath away ... blooms to open ... it requires the help of the lowly ant ... not nearly as pretty ... but they crawl inside the bud ... and force the tender bloom to smile.

Purdue Pete ... it may survive ... we are close to Fall ... as hard as that is to believe .... Hello!!!

[Radix]

I have a few Rhododendrons. Two are not doing so well lately (past few years). They had suffered trauma when I replanted them a few years ago. I have one that I bought a while back (10 years maybe), it was in a pot the size of a pail that a child brings to the beach, really tiny. That one has thrived. It is almost as tall as I am (6`2")

[illstillbe]

too attached to plants ...

This I understand completely ... though you are making it nearly beyond impossible for me to keep the appropriate sad face ... reflecting my sorrow over this event ... because, instead ... your angst is making me want to laugh.

Poor Mr. Marple ....

[Purdue Pete]

LOL...sad, but funny!

I have some peonies which have been living under terrible conditions for quite some time. They are 20 years old, but for the past 5 years or so, there have been fewer and fewer blooms.

I am planning to dig them and amend the soil as soon as it gets cool enough to stand it. They are a medium pink...look like the bottom picture you posted...and I will be glad to share them if you'd like some.

I'll let you know when I do the digging.

[illstillbe]

I forgot to add ... The leaf of the Peony ... when consumed ... causes intestinal distress ... lots of it.

Prognosis is good ... but deep in the throws of this ... distress?! ... one might wish otherwise.

HAR!

[Purdue Pete]

Some of my neighbors pronounce it Pie-nees. That seems to be the favored southern Indiana pronunciation.

I did not know that tidbit about the ants. I just know that they are crawling with them, and are a big problem when you cut a bouquet for the dinner table. They are near impossible to de-ant!

[Radix]

I have to go for a while. I will be thinking about the Etruscans while I am away. meanwhile I found this article to be interesting. I could be wrong, but as you say, "jump in". "And now for something completely different"!...........http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,322588,00.html

[illstillbe]

Fill a bucket, Purdue Pete, with water ~~~ and then dunk them in head first ... will not hurt the blooms ... but does de-ant them!!

I have always thought it so wondrous ... the partnership between this near stately bloom ... and the wee ant.

[Purdue Pete]

...you wouldn't be suggesting that Miss Marple add some peony leaves (if she had any) to Mr. Marples salad greens, now would you? ;-)

Nah, I didn't think so.

[illstillbe]

wouldn't be suggesting ...

Oh ... no ...no... no ... merely offering a way for Miss Marple to redirect her thoughts .... gettin' her mind off her flower woes ... Ha!

Well ... it was supposed to be sunny today ... instead, a cloud landed and engulfed my area .... no rain, though ... and I see I am just churning up the ol' bandwidth, here ....

I'll start inflicting preparations ....

[Dog]

Hello.....

Is this working........Test!

Tap! Tap!

Is anyone out there????

[Dog]

I finally get home from work..... and want to Freep and no one is here...

[MozartLover]

I'm here, but just for a minute.

[Dog]

How are you???

[MozartLover]

It's 95 degrees. Dew point 78. Heat index 111.

We have no a/c, but it's cool here in the basement.

[Dog]

No A/C?????Oh No!!!!!