I was driving home from Saratoga this morning, and halfway home, I saw a run-down farm with a “sale” sign and some beat-up and rickety garden houses. I had this impulse to drive in and look; for the first time, I’m paying attention to plant sales, which begin roughly this time of year. I did well at those sales last year. And I love to bargain with farm people.

I saw a beautiful reddish peone. It was one of the most gorgeous flowers I’ve seen yet, sale or not, and I went to take a closer look. It was perfect for my flower photos.

I was surprised to see the cost was $60. I’ve never bought a flowering plant for anywhere near that price. The greenhouse owner described herself as a farm wife who loves flowers, said they were rare, and I could see why. She said she needed to sell them off now; it was hay time.

She said they usually sold for between $35 and 75 dollars, depending on their strength and size. I asked if this one was on sale, and at first she said no, but I told her my flower story and she hesitated. She said a plant like this was rare, and they were developed in Japan. I said $60 was too much for me right now, but I sensed she was eager to sell the flower. I waited a bit.

I bought the plant for $40, and she threw in a small white rose bush.

It was a good deal. I got the flower home, and it began to pour and still runs, so the photos of my new peone reflect the water. I I got it into the garden bed right away. The plant was dried and root bound. I love having this flower to photograph; I did the best I could in the rain and also took some art photos to put up later. She said these flowers love manure, and I said this one was coming to the right place.

I had my first echo-cardiogram of the week this morning, but not the last. Everyone wants my blood to test. We have to get up very early to get to my subsequent and hopefully previous foot surgery at 7:45 a.m.  This time, a toe is getting cut up to be straighter.

After that, Maria and I can get some breakfast if  I’m up. She has a lot of great work to do, but she’s spent a lot of the week driving me around. It isn’t over yet.

The flowers are keeping me grounded and full of joy. Today, I was proud of myself; the white roses and the new blue peone are a great addition to the farm. I took a few photos of the flower already, but the rain soaked me and them. Thanks for your wonderful notes, they are a lift.

I got this photo of the white cap peone just before it started to rain heavily.

My tiny white rose bush.

The newest peone is being born.

I was proud of myself, getting this new peone. I felt I bargained well and scored a minor coup for my raised beds.