Breaking the losing streak.

Paula Fay's Big Day., a photo by Leenechan on Flickr.

Well, we're not exactly losing. We're just becoming acutely aware of the three week blooming gap in our garden. All the other peonies are quite a bit farther behind.

I'll take another picture of Paula Fay when this flower is fully open. It's kind of sad that we've had this plant for at least five years and this is the first year that it looks like a real peony shrub. With only four flowers. Big ones, though!

I fell in love with Paula Fay when I saw it growing in the display garden at White Flower Farm. That and Scarlet O'Hara, which looks like just like Paula, but with a single rather than a semi-double flower.

Semi-double like Paula Fay and Coral Supreme is my favorite peony flower form, seconded by full-double like Moonstone. I don't really care for the bomb shape, but then again, a nice bomb is great once in a while.

Blasting aphids off with the garden hose every morning. Damn things are persistent! I found a third bud on James Mason today. Still haven't confirmed anything on Chapeau de Napoleon, but hey, I have my fingers crossed!

Something's been snacking on my iris....

I just noticed that one of our divided After the Storm tall bearded iris has had the top bitten off it. I'm not sure what kind of animal would do such a thing, because I heard that rabbits and deer don't really like them. Or do they?

It might have been a chipmunk. Those f--ing things are running rampart throughout the yard. I can't even set foot outside without sending one scampering away, making hideous squeaking noises.

It might have still been a rabbit. I haven't seen any other evidence that the bunny is back, though. It usually goes for the asters first.

Well, whatever it was, I hope it likes hot pepper spray! I hope the hot pepper spray works. The irises are within days of blooming and it would kill me if something got to them before they popped their glorious flowers.

And then there's aphids, aphids and more aphids. They are really getting out of hand. I blast them off with the hose and two hours later, they're back. Chipmunks, aphids, rabbits...multiflora rose in big clumps on the border of our yard. I gashed my right thumb open taking some of it out last night.

Kristen says she got bit by thrips when she was out pruning the forsythia bush. Things are lookin' good for our garden!

Well, clematis Gillian Blades bloomed today. I'll take a picture tomorrow.