It's peony season! Of all the garden flowers we love, peonies are the queens of the garden. Peonies are large, showy and fragrant. An arrangement with these show stopping blooms is a beautiful way to embrace gracious living. These peony care tips will help your peony bouquet or arrangement live longer.
Welcome to Monday Morning Blooms. My three flower friends and I are sharing our love for flowers with you today. Please be sure to visit each of them by clicking on the links at the bottom of this post!
Peonies have a special allure. They are big, feminine and flirty, few things are as stunning as real peonies in a vase. Because peonies aren't available all year, it makes them even more special, doesn't it?
Harvested and sold from early May to the middle or end of June, the peony season is short but glorious. I'm always the first one to rush out to buy bunches and bring them home. Not only are they beautiful, they remind me of my grandfather's garden in Europe. He loved his garden so much, and as a little girl I loved nothing more than walking the property with him while he talked about each flower, bush or tree.
For this Monday Morning Blooms, I was so delighted to be able to go out and safely buy flowers again! That they were peonies, roses, and hydrangeas {all my favorites!} made it even more special, it was the first time I went "out" after our shelter in place order on March 19th.
I mean, you just can't improve on these cloud-like blooms, right? Peonies are beautiful alone, but they really shine when mixed with roses and hydrangeas to create a magnificent arrangement.
HOW TO PICK AND CARE FOR PEONIES.
1. START WITH THE RIGHT FLOWERS.
Gather peonies from the garden in the early morning. If you don't grow your own, buy peonies fresh cut from a grower or at your local flower shop. The buds should still be closed and the size of a golf ball. They should have green petals, but show a little bit of color. The buds should feel like firm marshmallows.
2. PREP THE FLOWERS.
Prep your peonies at home as soon as possible. Cut the stems about 1/2" up, on a diagonal. This is so that the flowers will absorb as much water as possible. Remove all the leaves from the stem where they will touch the water in your vase. If you don't need the foliage, strip off the leaves, they only divert the flower's energy. Place the peonies in cool water immediately.
3. GET YOUR VASE READY.
Peonies look their best when they are not flopping all over. To get your peonies to look as beautiful as possible, this trick will guarantee you design the best peony arrangement of the season. The secret? Clear floral tape. After you fill your vase with room temperature water, use a towel to dry the rim of your container. Then, apply strips of the tape across the top like a grid, or a diagram like you make for tic-tac-toe. The tape should run about 1/4" longer than the opening on both sides, so you can tape it to the outside of the vase. You can secure tape even more by circling all the way around the opening with an extra strip of tape.
4. ARRANGE CAREFULLY.
When arranging the flowers, make sure you don't pull the bottom petals of. They provide much of the support for the heavy flower heads. Peonies love to be arranged with other flowers, but be sure to avoid flowers with sharp points, they will damage the petals.
5. CLEAN AND HYDRATE.
Change the water and trim the stems a little tiny bit daily or at least every other day. You can add a little more flower food then, too.
If you follow these simple steps you will have a beautiful peony arrangement.
Peonies are always a good idea! They make me so happy when I see them in the living room. Even though they are only available for a short time, while they are here, they are glorious!
Thank you so much for visiting me today. I always love to read your comments, they mean so much to me. These Mondays when we all share our love of flowers are favorites.
Especially now during this unprecedented time, making our home special for ourselves and our families is more important than ever.
Do you love peonies as much as I do? With these Peony Care Tips you will be a designer pro!
On a side note, please join me in prayer that we as a nation can have healing, justice and peace on our streets, in all our lives, and in our hearts.
ps. For those of you who have been waiting....I've restocked the FrenchGardenHouse Flower Arranging Kit!
Please be sure to visit my friends, they always deliver just the right dose of beauty and inspiration we all long for!
SHIRLEY from Housepitality Designs
MARY from HomeIsWhereTheBoatIs
and me, LIDY from FrenchGardenHouse
A BIENTOT
Shop for the best in French Antiques, furniture with the patina of age, vintage accessories to delight you and your family & friends, and French Country utilitarian pieces. Treasures that make your home fresh, beautiful, inspirational and uniquely yours. Visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.com
sharing with Between Naps on the Porch
36 comments
Happy Birthday! I hope your day was wonderful Jamey.
Absolutely beautiful flowers. I’m learning so much! I am grateful for your knowledge, your teaching, and the loving care you show us. thank you!
I wish that too, Bobbi! I do think that their short availability makes them even more special! Hope you have a beautiful day!
I stumbled upon your garden site by accident. What a delightful surprise. Peonies are my favorite flower. It blooms in my garden every year for my birthday. What a better way to celebrate Right? Today is my 80th birthday and I am truly blessed.
Lidy, lovely arrangement and very helpful tips. I adore peonies, just wish their growing season was longer…like all year lol! Hugs!
Laurel, the only thing I can think of is to cover them with tarps, and try to deflect the rain and wind somewhat. Unfortunately, there isn’t that much we can do to protect from a fierce mother nature. I’m so sorry!
Hello Southeast Mn is expecting a harsh storm this evening. My peony bushes are beautiful but buds not open yet. What can I do to protect my bushes? Anything? I appreciated so much your information on care of peonies. Thank you.
I love Peonies, growing up my Aunt in Virginia had a whole bank of them in her back yard that bloomed in May…. they were stunning.
I live in a town home community but I did plant 4 Peony plants last year and actually had 1 gorgeous bloom this year. It was a deep fuchsia and just perfect. I hope that is a sign of more next year!
Thank you for sharing your tips on arranging! I always learn from you :)
Theresa
I love MMB with you and your friends! The pictures of your arrangements are always so beautiful – and I so appreciate your Peony tips! I’m saving this in my FGH folder! Have a great week!
Stunning Lidy, simply elegant!!