1) Finalmente, after seeing peonies blooming all over the place for weeks, my own peonies have at last bloomed. Not all of them, not yet. Last night there were two, this morning maybe five. I cut one to bring in the house ( a single peony in a vase is a work of art) and already its delicate scent, more delicate than a rose's, inhabits the whole room.
1a) Now I am hoping that a big rain will not pound them into the ground, as so often happens. In an absence of string I've tied them up with broken Mardi Gras beads, but that doesn't guarantee anything.
1b) Observe the ant in the photo above. I forget which horticulturally-minded friend told me that peonies need ants to eat off the sucrose-based film that covers the buds, but I have no reason to disbelieve it, and have often seen them on the peonies.
2) I'd been prompted to make my reunion etiquette presentation at yesterday's staff training more fun, which led to including images from the royal wedding and the Met gala on what not to wear - and to a successful presentation.
3) Right now, enjoying the sun and mild humidity on my back porch before heading to the office. If I'm able to accomplish enough today, I can rest up all day tomorrow.