Peonies

Peonies have been so beautiful this year.  The buds always remind me of my little boys, when they were 2 and 4 years old they picked all the buds off  the peonies to play marbles but they didn't roll so good because they were sticky and picked up dirt and they had to deal with the ants after the nectar. I love the gentle gradation of color in the buds and outside petals and how the green and red melt together but never get muddy.  How does nature do that?
always in awe of nature --Ann--