Budding to go

The peony rose is not open yet but will be any day this week. Dr Livingstone thought we would have a little bet as to which bud will open first, but actually we're too tired to even look nowadays.
I saw a sturdy bumble bee try to pry open the bud to get to the good stuff, but the bud wasn't going to yield any of its deliciousness just yet.
The plant has also been spared the usual tramp-tramp of the ant jackboot. Strange, I thought they'd be the first ones in trying to steal the nectar on the outside of the bud.
We're both glad the two peony's survived the digging last year and are doing so well now, it will give an extra added colour to the monotonous green shades still lurking about this late spring.