We have peonies in our front yard, which have supports that we add once they’re about a foot tall. These plants grow not far from my office window, so I get the pleasure of seeing them everyday. At the beginning of last week, when I glanced at them, they were barely beginning to grow for the season; they might have been six inches tall.  We had wonderfully warm and sunny weather last week, which inspired these plants to grow. They grew so much that yesterday we needed to add their supports. Looking at them today, they must be nearly a foot and a half tall!

Change is funny like that. For weeks these plants were just tiny stalks awaiting their growth spurt. Over the past seven days, they’ve grown in leaps and bounds. While it probably is a while until we see their gorgeous blooms, their daily development is astounding.

At PeKu we’ve experienced a number of changes over the past two months. Two of our long-term writers have left our team to move forward on new ventures. Ronald A. Rowe began writing for us in February 2009 when PeKu wasn’t even a year old. Jason Lightner joined the team in July 2010, as we marked our second birthday. Combined, these two columnists wrote thousands of wonderful columns over the years. I will miss their humor, insights, and thoughts on so many different topics.

As I mentioned last month, we have added new writers to the PeKu team to fill these gaps. This month we are adding another new columnist to our team. Cricket Webber joins us, penning columns for Feathers Fins and Fur, ‘Bout Home, and Little Bit of Green. From informing our audience on edible and decorative plants to inspiring us with home decorating ideas, she is sure to add zest to our publications.

While it is hard to say goodbye to team members who I have gotten to know so well, it is exciting to work with new people and experience topics through their thoughts. Please join me in wishing the best to Ron and Jason and welcoming Cricket.