Peonies are just coming into flower now. They are slow-growing perennials with a short season, but are spectacular in the garden or as cut flowers. This is Peonies (c1939, Nottingham Castle), perhaps seen by Stanley Spencer in one of his neighbour's gardens. The Stanley Spencer Gallery is just down the road from Spencer's childhood home and a visit can be combined with a walk round Cookham to spot the locations he used and, depending on the season, many of his floral subjects.