It only took 2 years.

I planted this peony from a bulb over two years ago. It grew great, never flowered and seemed to die over the winter. I mourned the loss and went on with my life. Imagine my surprise when it grew back even larger that next spring. Sadly, it still didn't flower. I knew enough last winter not to be surprised when it seemed to die. (Apparently, it does best when totally ignored from October to March.) Happily, it flowered this year only a few weeks after the birth of my son. I like to think it wasn't just a coincidence. To commemorate the flowering, I took a picture.Take no notice of the dying backyard grass. I can only hope to keep a limited number of living things alive and without a sprinkler system, the grass is impossible to maintain in the summer.