fuzzy gray ovaries
topped with curly red stigmas --
petals fallen away
Only one red tree peony blossom is still intact after several days of hard rain and frost at night. The magenta petals of all the other flowers lie scattered on the ground. Having done their duty of attracting pollinators, the voluptuous petals have fallen away, leaving the fertilized ovaries naked to the elements. The sticky red stigmas on top have also finished their job of catching pollen and they will slowly dry up and turn black. But right now, each seed heads looks like a cluster of downy baby penguins with red heads curved down on their fuzzy gray breasts.
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