Raring to Go

The buds on our yellow tree paeony are swelling. Over the winter it is just about the ugliest plant in the garden, stiff soot- black stems with the tatters of last year's leaves dangling, looking as if all life has departed.

Now each stem is crowned with a cluster of these buds, fired up and raring to go. When the leaves and flowers open it will be transformed.

But the weather will have to warm up a bit before that can happen.