I take pictures of this plant every year. My other pictures are dated May 4th for 2010 and May 6 for 2011. It blooms briefly so that is how much earlier things are this season. Glenda's beautiful lavender poppy picture was posted in June; I'll bet they will be earlier this year.

Your are right! I have peonies and a few poppies in bloom.
My roses are starting too which is about a month early.

No peonies but my jackmanii clematis is blooming and I think that usually happens some time in May. I could get used to this.
Peonies remind me of my dad's mother. She had some light pink ones and I have a very vivid memory of those being soaked in rain and sulking like they do when they're wet. I don't know why I remember that. I must've been very young.