Haven't our gardens been glorious this past week? So many things are in bloom right now: daylilies, cranesbill geraniums, oriental poppies, and the showiest of all, the fragrant flamboyant peony. These are the flowers that make our garden look like a Georgia O'Keefe painting: giant blooms, wild ruffles, and a scent that must surely be like Heaven.
Aren't they our dream plants? They are faithful, sturdy perennials that have few pests or diseases. They are hardy and come back each spring without a lot of fuss and bother in the fall. They can last for dozens and dozens of years. And each spring we are rewarded with magnificent blooms. Even when they are not blooming, their lush foliage is a beautiful backdrop in the garden, and the leaves are long-lived additions to flower arrangements.
In recent years, they have become the flower of choice for many bridal bouquets and wedding arrangements. And guess what, I read somewhere that Alaska is becoming a prime grower or peonies, shipping upwards of 100,000 blooms south each season. And the reason for this unlikely export: the cooler temperatures and long daylight hours mean the peony season up north outlasts the growing season further south. Who knew?
The noble peony is part of Greek mythology, named after Paean who was the "team doctor" of the gods, using peony root to cure their wounds from various mythical battles. And in long ago times, the Chinese appreciated the beauty of the peony, growing it for more than one thousand years and honoring it as a symbol of prestige and wealth.
Peonies like a sunny location, with some space to themselves so they don't have to compete too vigorously with other plants for moisture or air circulation. I remember many happy gardening memories ago, some of my aunties had huge clumps of peonies in their yards, placed as focal points in the middle of their lawns. My handy uncles built elegant wooden rails to surround each plant so that the blooms remained beautifully upright. I suppose if we were to chat about the down side of peonies, it would be that quite often their stems are not strong enough to hold up the flowers. But we gardeners can surely come up with some sort of support to keep the flowers off the ground. I know sometimes people also comment about the ants, but they are not hurting the flower or plant in any way. The ants just enjoy the nectar on the blooms.
Be sure to deadhead your peonies so that strength will go into the roots of the plant for the coming season. You can divide your peonies every eight or ten years or so, but this is not compulsory! Peonies are homebodies who like to stay in the same place. Here's a little factoid: peonies are called the "century flower" because some gardeners report peony clumps that have been blooming in the same spot for 100 years. But if you do feel compelled to divide your peonies, do this task in the fall.
I love peonies: Mom and I dried many blooms and used the delicately fragranced petals for confetti when Keith and I got married. They are a wonderful addition to your garden, so if you don't have any, mark it down on your "must get" list for next year!
Hope to see you on the bus tour to Neepawa on July 20; if you have any questions about this trip, please call Liz at 782-2830. Remember, you don't have to be members of the group to come on this road trip!
Have a good week, gardeners, and be sure to wear a hat!
