Oh Zinnia's, how I love thee!

Monarda aka Bee Balm

I love this stuff!

Some people complain that it is invasive.

I don't have that problem in my zone 5 garden.

In fact, it seems to be getting pushed out by a few other garden thugs

It is not just beautiful, but deer resistant, bunny resistant and the hummingbirds and butterflies love it.

It is low maintenance and drought tolerant

This pink one is from a friends garden

Do you think they would notice it missing?   ;)

Don't touch Mother's Peony's...

I still remember my father saying that when I was a little girl.

'You can look, but don't touch Mother's Peony's'

I would sit out in the back yard looking at the big buds

I liked to watch the ants

I never did touch Mom's Peony's...but I really WANTED to!

They always started to open on my birthday and Dad would bring one inside to me

 'Happy Birthday Sweetheart'

I always remember how happy it made me to have my very own, and to this day Peony's are one of my very favorite blooms.  2 years ago, Mom and Dad brought me a piece of that very same Peony.

Today, the first bloom opened.

Just in time for my birthday