For Mother's Day, my own sweet Mama brought me a whole bunch of these beautiful flowers which a re in bloom right now. I find it hard to look at them for too long as I can not really wrap my head around the beauty. It almost confuses me.
And I knew without even "knowing" it that they had to be native to Asia. The flora and fauna from that part of the world have such a distinct exoticism. It turns out that he peony is native to Asia but also to parts of Europe and the Pacific Northwest. Most peonies grow in bushes but some look more like trees. They are evidently tolerant of some shade but do need 6 hours of sun each day.
I made a stop to our local nursery a couple of days ago and found a white peony shrub (which I have a very nice spot for in our front yard), but I thought better of it--the flower is definitely not native our area, and while I do not have a black thumb, I also do not have a lot of tolerance for plants that need to be babied. It looks like the only peonies I will have will be in a vase, but I'll take them!
4 comments:
no no! my neighbor in Montclair who works at the NY botanical gardens gave me a peony plant - color of red wine - amazing - and i stuck it in my front garden (in nj) and forgot about it -- it took off!!! He tells me they are hardy plants. Bloomed profusely. I dug it up and put it in a pot when i thought we might be moving and so now it is on my deck here in Durham about to bloom! I say get yourself a Peony plant!!! love, sheila
Love peonies (but I, too refuse to baby plants)! This is the fourth year I've waited for mine to bloom--if it didn't produce this year I was going to dig it up. Just last week I spied three blossoms (I think). Maybe it sensed its impending doom and decided to get with it. Here's hoping.
I agree with you. Peonies are incredible. I once was given peony plants from a neighbor which I planted in the front yard. They tried to thrive for years before I finally admitted defeat and retired them. I've never had the nerve to try again...
Blessings, Debbie
They are the sweetest!
MMMmmmm ~ I am so looking forward to this years now. Thank you!!
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