Return to the Peony Garden

So yesterday I went to the peony gardens because I heard that the flowers were blooming.  I checked it out about a week ago and it was not blooming then.  As I got there, it was busy but it wasn't as busy as in years past, so I stopped.

 It's always nice to see the peony gardens because there is a nice variety of flowers and colors.  I think I caught it at just about the right time this year.

 I think some of the flowers here are over 100 years old.  Well not the flowers but the plant that the flowers are on.  It would be a shame if we lost them.

 I think this kind is my favorite.  It looks the closest to being a flower.

 This was another of that type.  I think this one might be on the way out.

 It seems like many were just coming into bloom.  Which is funny because I think this is about the same time I caught pictures of these last year.  I do know that the time I have to get pictures of these is pretty fleeting.

 I'm always amazed and how many different flowers can be considered as peonies.

 I love it when there are some other colors mixed in.  I like to think that they are doing some crossbreeding.  But it may be something as simple as the bees moving some of the genetic material around.

 I love the pink highlights on this one.

 I took the picture from a different angle.

 I like these from a different angle as well.

 Another one.

 Sometimes its nice to pull the camera out.

 One with some subtle pink highlights.

 I really like this flower.

 I think this is another one that is fading on me.

 A pink version of that flower.

 Another pink flower.

 I kind of wish I knew the differences because I think all of these have different names.

 I kind of like this one with the bug in it.

 A pair of flowers.

 Another pink flower.

 Getting that from a different angle.  You can notice a little striping in the flower.

 And another angle.

 I think this is another new one.

 And a different angle.

 One of the ones that I like but it appears to be still blooming.

 I also like these.  They look like they have little tendrils that are ready to kill something.

 One with yellow.

 And pink.

 Another pink flower.

 A bloomed flower and one that still needs to bloom.

 A more reddish flower.

 Another angle.

 And from the side.

As you can see, there were a few people here.  there were a couple of people painting to the left.  It almost looks like the couple on the right saw a camera but they were too far away.

Anyway, I may try to come back later.

Shakespeare in the Arb

Tonight they were also doing some sort of Shakespeare thing.  It was different than what I saw last week in that the actors were in costume.

 I'm not sure what play they were performing as I couldn't quite make out the lines but it seemed pretty cool.  I might have to check this out next week.

A kiss before it is interrupted by one of the other actresses.

An Evening With the Peonies

Once again I decided to head over to the Arboretum to get pictures of the peonies.  However, I decided that I was going to stay there tonight regardless of the size of the crowd.  I'm glad that I did because I have a feeling that they aren't going to be around much longer.

 I saw this flower as I was entering the peony garden but I'm not sure what kind of flower it is.  At any rate, I liked the looks of it.

 It seems that most of the flowers I saw tonight were either white or shades of pink.  Some in the case of this flower had shades of both.

 A white one with a reddish interior.

 I was also trying some different angles tonight.  Trying to get different views of the flowers.  it was kind of tough though.

 A more reddish looking flower.

 I was also trying to get some groupings when possible.

 I think I like the ones that are open like this the most but I also think these are the ones that are going to go next.

 It is still amazing how many different shapes there are.

 Another side shot.

 And another.

 I didn't realize that this one had stripes of white passing through it.

 That same flower from the side.

 I also like these ones because they look like there is some kind of creature in the middle.

 A fully open one.

 Another grouping of peonies.

 And another open one.

 One with a little yellow in it.

 another opened one.

 A trio of flowers.

 I really like this one.

 Another closeup.

An attempt at an overall shot but as you can see, there were several people there.