Watching for Sorbet
Following the first storm, we received 3 more days of rain. Not lovely, comforting soft drizzle but dark skies occasionally torn open with startling bursts of thunder and lightning, and hard, pounding rain. Tall plants bent over crushed, the petunias were shredded in their planters — especially tattered were the beautiful Creme Brulee petunias — and the stout branches of our south Ash tree succumbed to the weight of the water on its over extended 20 foot limbs. Sadly, the branches are now in 2 foot lengths drying out for firewood for summer camping trips and the front of our house that was once shaded with it leafy veil is now naked and exposed to view.
In the midst of that I wondered briefly about the Sorbet blossom. How would it hold up or would it at all? If the Ash tree couldn’t withstand the storms how was a fragile, first time peony blossom supposed to? Other matters occupied my attention though and I had little opportunity to survey the effects of our summer storms on this newly emerged anchor of the potager. Eventually the sun returned, rains ceased – at least for now – and quiet reigned instead over the garden. This morning I took a walk to see how it all fared. True to its strengths the peony survived fine: a little dirtied for the experience but undamaged and undaunted. For its brief bloom period Sorbet is glimmering in the garden, shaded by the Crack Willow and among other perennial friends.
Well situated peonies can live for 50 years, longer than many types of trees, and far longer than most varieties of flowers. Their bloom period is brief in the early heat of summer and then they produce no more till the following year. Yet with beautiful, glossy sculpted foliage, heady with fragrance and colours ranging from pure whites and subtle pastels to dazzling brights, peonies bring a distinct and measured grace to the garden. In a few days this blossom will fade and in the weeks ahead this corner of the garden will be lit up by other faithful blooms – Asiatic lilies, Hyssop, Black Prince Snapdragon, Rubeckia, and eventually Little Lamb Hydrangea. And ever mesmerizing Cream Abundance Roses that will bloom sweetly and magically all summer. But the peony is the first strong bloom to brighten the shade here and she will likely outlive all else in this bed, save the Rosa Glauca growing behind her.
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