Peonies

Thrust from the earth
Phallic red columns
Hungry for warmth and light
Transformed into sturdy bushes
Green soft delicate foliage
Bearing expectant globes
Which open slowly to reveal
Puff balls or open bowl forms
Whites, yellows, reds and pinks
Light floral fragrant perfume
And then again they disappear
For winter they sleep
Warm and the hidden beneath      the soil
Buried treasure

A perfect bloom

Great Malvern, Floral Competition, Worcestershire.

Iapetus Galleries Black dog in Car

 The weather was not great this weekend, too many showers and not enough sunny spells. This couldn't dampen the Floral competition in Malvern though, as the floral displays were all indoors.

Forget-me-not's wedding theme

Great Malvern Deli's Granny's picnic

The various shops created displays around the theme of, "A grand day out". Here are just a few examples. I get why a wedding is a grand day, and I was surprised that only one entry had taken the Wallace and Gromit film, "A grand day out," as its inspiration. Some though were just odd. gran enjoying a day in the country is just weird, but not as weird as a black dog enjoying a ride in a yellow flower car.  A black dog is often used as a symbol for depression, and I can't think of any other meaning that is better linked to the topic. Made me smile though, the idea of depression going for a spin in the country, sometimes we all just need to feel the wind in our hair, (fur or floppy ears).

Gordon Smith's Wallace and Gromit entry