Peonies in Full Bloom
My Peonies are finally blooming! Peonies are some of my favorite flowers! They come in such a wide range of colors and styles it is impossible not to find at least one variety that you have absolutely fallen in love with. They do bloom quite early in the flower season and as a result unless you start seeds indoors there aren't many other flowers to arrange them with. Most of my bouquets with them have been an arrangement of solely peonies but they are still quite beautiful.
Peonies come in a wide range of pinks, whites, and purples. While their are many different types the most commonly grown are the full doubled petaled varieties. As a result they are usually quite top-heavy and a light rain will knock them over. Some gardeners recommend using stakes to hold them up but I just let them grow by themselves and try to pick any blooms before we get rain.
Peonies are best picked while still in the bud right when they are about to bloom. While picking them when they are in the bud will extend their vase life by a few days you can also pick them while they are opening or after they are already open.
A few tips for picking peonies:
1. Make sure if you are picking them after they have opened that all the flowers you picked opened around the same time. That way some flowers dont die sooner in the vase then others giving the arrangement the longest longevity possible.
2. While picking peonies make sure you shake them off outside after picking them as ants tend to be all over them. It's a good sign if yours are covered in ants because the ants help to open the peony buds but you probably don't won't them crawling all over your dining room table!
3. Keep in mind that peony's are not "cut and come again" flowers like zinnias and dahlias. Peony's only bloom during the spring and once you cut them they probably won't give another round of blooms!
P. S. The peonies in the next photo are my Aunt's who let me take a couple pictures!
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