With me being gone from the garden in the upcoming week, I feel like I am going to miss some “firsts” of 2026 like first snow pea of 2026 or… okay, maybe that’s all but that’s because those “firsts” feel like I’m parent witnessing a child’s first steps. It’s never the same and always just as exciting.

Thankfully, I caught the first peony blooming in the garden this week. They are definitely not as big as last year and I know why. I haven’t been watering them nor have I fed them.

I feel like I shouldn’t need to feed flowers unless the flower happens to be a heavy feeder, which most flowers are not. I think the only exception might be roses, which are in their special category of thing and even then, I’ll just stick with giving them a dose of gentle organic fertilizer as I have been giving my vegetables.

Anyway, I love this peony. It reminds me of a ball bursting open and in a way, that’s what it is as you can see there’s a bud about to bloom underneath. Isn’t it amazing that some flowers start out like this and gradually, it turns into a beautiful bloom?

The Flower Hour and SundayStills