Peonies

I didn't have a good night last night, I seemed to be coughing more than usual. I do have a chronic cough, known about by the GP but I thought I'd maybe better take my head out of the sand and do a HOME covid test. All clear - as I knew it would be, but reassuring to gave checked, I duly reported the result to Zoë. I know its not 100% but as I don't see many people my chances of picking up the virus are hopefully pretty remote.

It's lovely to see the first flush of peonies coming into flower in the garden. The head on this one was over six inches across. Lots of flowers already and plenty of buds still to come Hopefully the rain won't batter them too much. My white peony has around 50 buds on it but they're much tighter at the moment. I expect it will be 2-3 weeks till they are out. These red peonies, I may have said before, started life on my Great Grandfather's allotment in Liverpool in the 19th century. They have moved over the generations (along with some mint for the Sunday roast lamb) to my grandmother's house, my parents' two homes in Scotland and to four gardens with us. They've done well and I have offshoots growing for the girls when they want them.
Pentecost today so a busy service in church. We had a visitor to the congregation who has just moved nearby and comes from Andhra Pradesh. He said it gave him goose bumps when he heard the announcement about the appeal we are holding for a hospital in India. He said thank you for helping. He is a qualified doctor and starts his new job here, tomorrow as a personal care assistant going into people's homes.! I hope he comes back.
I was really tired this afternoon but managed some time in the garden while it was dry. I repotted the courgette plants which are on the window sill, they're not quite ready to go into the big bad world yet. The runner beans in tubes haven't done well this year, only one has grown so I've sown another few directly into the bed, fingers crossed they'll take. Other than topping up the tattie sacks, that was it. I came back in, scrubbed my hands and then fell asleep for two hours. I could really do with some energy!
Roast chicken for dinner, looking forward to it.
Keep safe and well everybody.