Missed Out

Too many other things to do!

Light Opera version

Country Version

Missed Out

I found them in a catalog, 
back in the olden days,
before there was an internet,
so by a check you paid.
My peonies, once florid pink, 
have blossoms mostly white.
It's how they get gray hair, I think.  
They're old, but still they fight.
They grow out on the hot south side, 
where sun scalds grass and plants,
and when they bloom, I always see 
the flowers attract ants.
This year, I missed those fluffy blooms 
late springtime brings around.
Today, I found, to my dismay, 
dead petals on the ground.
The pinkish flowers arrive first; 
they're also first to fall.
There are still whites, but very few. 
I'll have to prune them all.
Late summer, their green leaves turn white 
when fungus starts to grow.
I've sprayed them with a fungicide 
and neem oil--still "no go!"
September's when they start to wilt, 
so soon of life bereft.
November, right near turkey time, 
I'll chop off what is left.
Next year, perhaps I'll time it right. 
By now, you'd think I'd know,
how at peak bloom, they're a delight.  
This year, I missed their show.