Every year since we moved into our current house back in 1973, the peonies have bloomed around Mother’s Day. The previous owners had an affinity for these lovely red, pink and white beauties and had thriving beds near the carport and in the back near the patio. They are still there.
The blooms can be sort of scroungy looking. They begin to fall apart about a day after they bloom, but there are so many blooms it hardly matters. And they smell heavenly. A freshly picked bouquet will sweeten a whole house with its fragrance.
Peonies are among America’s best loved perennials. Mature plants rise to three feet or more and can produce as many as 50 flowers a year. Once established, the plants are tough as nails, but you have to be patient with new plantings. Leave the blooms untouched for the first 2 or 3 years.
The only problem with peonies is the ant factor. Ants are attracted to the sweet nectar of peonies and when you pick the blooms and bring them inside, you also bring in ants. Shake the flowers upside down or dip them in water to keep the ants outside where they belong.
Plant them in the fall, give them a few years to mature and you can have peonies blooming for the next 50 years as well.