peonies

The spring weather in Samara this year was a bit “off” resulting in a rather drab display of flowers–yes, very disappointing for me in that I am used to a steady stream of bouqets, like lilies of the valley, lilacs, tulips, and the grand finale: peonies. But all the blooms were late, wimpy, or non-existant here in the city. So, imagine my delight as our cruise ship landed in places where nature flourished and blessed me with its vibrant colors, cool shadows, and air-freshening fragrances. It was worth the wait.