Fern Leaf Peony

The fern leaf peony is supposed to be hard to grow, but ours is flourishing.  It's one of the first plants up in the spring in the garden, spreading it's very frilly leaves above the dirt as soon as any even slightly warmish weather gets here.  It grows fast, ahead of all the other peonies, until it's a mound of light green foliage nearly 3 feet wide and high.

 Then the blooms come out, brilliant red with yellow stamens buried deep in the flower.  For a few days anyway, the plant is just covered with the bright blossoms, making it look like a huge lantern in the garden.  Unfortunately this year the heavy rain the last two days has done it in quickly, but it's been a sign of colour to come over the summer.