I have been waiting for three years — THREE YEARS!!!! — for my yellow peony to bloom.
When I bought this Bartzella Itoh at the nursery, it had one lovely yellow bud, and as soon as I planted it, that bud burst into full bloom.
That spring — during the height of the pandemic — I took that bloom as a sign.
Then the next year came. The next year went. The foliage was lush, but blooms? Not so much. In fact, not a single bud.
I told myself to that peonies can be finicky, give it a year to adjust to its new location…be patient.
Again last year, there it went with the lush foliage. There it went again with the derth of buds. Not. One. Single. Bloom.
I looked at the other peonies in my garden, and then looked at the Bartz? I gave it a stern talking to. I reminded it that as a peony it had only one job to do and it’s been slacking off. I told it I was disappointed in its behavior. I threatened it with drastic action if it didn’t get its act together next spring.
Then spring came this year. All the other peony bushes poked their heads up through the winter crust of soil…and Bartz?
Nothing.
So we had another little chat. I may or may not have mentioned the word “Roundup,” and I let it know in no uncertain terms that I knew exactly where the shovel was.
A couple of days later, I saw the tops of the leaves poke through the ground.
The Bartz buds set on late this spring, and when a hard, late-season frost was forecast, I showed my love and affection by covering it completely with a giant cardboard box and a quilt.
As I set the quilt in place I whispered, “You. Owe. Me.”
And OH MY STARS, WILL YOU LOOK AT THIS BUSH!!! I have been overwhelmed by these gorgeous blossoms. The bush is absolutely amazing, and there are still unopened buds around and about, waiting for their turn in the sunshine.
I look at my peony bush and think about how sometimes it’s darned near impossible to keep the faith and wait, wait, wait. To trust that something is happening that’s making a gorgeous, flourishing bloom possible.
If you’re impatient like I can be impatient… if your entire life feels like my peony story— take heart.
Once again, I’m taking this peony as a sign.
All best,