Never underestimate the power of the well placed peony. Paeonia is from the god Paeon, the student of Asclepius, Greek god of medicine and healing.  I find them to be visually healing, don't you? I often wonder why these beautiful plants fell out of favor. Was it because they only bloom once a year? You can now get Itoh (intersectional) peonies which bloom later in the summer giving you a more staggered bloom time.  I'm thinking about adding one to my collection, but they are still very pricey. From Harvey Buchite for the American Peony Society, who explains them better than I: "Intersectional peonies are derived by crossing peonies from one section of the genus Paeonia with those from another. There are three sections in the genus Paeonia, and within at least the Section Paeon, a great diversity in species. It is not very likely that all intersectional peonies will...

Part of the potager in with Berried Treasure strawberries, leaf lettuce and chives. What are the best and easiest vegetables to grow in Oklahoma?  First, growing anything in Oklahoma is a dare. You never know if spring will suddenly end, and hot weather will linger for days, or if a hail storm or a tornado will foul up your spring planting.  Oh, and God bless the freakin' deer, raccoons, rabbits, and squirrels.  What they don't eat, they dig up and tear apart. Now, with those caveats aside here are the best and easiest vegetables to grow. Here are my best and easiest vegetables to grow in Oklahoma. Lettuce. Sow seeds directly outdoors at the end of February, and you should have success.  Spinach isn't always so accommodating. I find it's easier to grow in the fall vegetable garden.  Lettuce also grows well in containers, so if you have even a tiny...

Carol from May Dreams Gardens (Zone 5), Mary Ann from Gardens of the Wild, Wild West (Zone 6) and I decided, last year, to exchange letters from our vegetable gardens. We had so much fun we’re continuing the tradition this spring and summer. We hope to give everyone an idea of how gardens grow in three different USDA hardiness zones. I garden in Zone 7a, where we're having the best sort of spring. Good Morning Garden Buddies, What a fine morning it is. The sun is shining, and it's a brisk 47F, but I read the temperature will be climbing to 79F by this afternoon. My friend, Katie, is coming by to get some of my overflow, and I'm going to photograph her garden for the Lowe's blog. She's turned a small urban yard into a natural haven for birds, butterflies and all of God's creatures. The bok choy is...

The Best Thing in the World What's the best thing in the world? June-rose, by May-dew impearled; Sweet south-wind, that means no rain; Truth, not cruel to a friend; Pleasure, not in haste to end; Beauty, not self-decked and curled Till its pride is over-plain; Love, when, so, you're loved again. What's the best thing in the world? --Something out of it, I think. Elizabeth Barrett Browning This beautiful poem is part of the mystery in the latest Maisie Dobbs book, The Mapping of Love and Death (Maisie Dobbs, Book 7). I've read all of this series which is set during and after WWI in England. I thought the poem was so fitting for this month's muse, and I thank Carolyn Gail at Sweet Home and Garden Chicago for the opportunity to share it.