If you travel west out of the Twin Cities on Highway 12 you quickly leave the urban life behind for farm fields and open spaces.  We did just that yesterday morning – our destination was Swenson Gardens near Howard Lake.  Celebrating Peony Days at Swenson’s was a true delight – to sight and smell alike.  With fields of peonies in bloom, and a view of the horizon all around, we enjoyed learning about all the different varieties of peonies in so many colors that I’d never seen or known about.  It was a wonderful place to explore and immerse yourself in the sights and smells of late spring.