This Is For You California Girls!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I cut these this morning:

They are very old peonies, the old-fashioned kind with a wonderful fragrance. I have had peonies before, but never fragrant ones.

Anyone else have peonies blooming now?

[Adina P]

Very pretty! In my flower illiteracy I would have thought they were carnations. Somewhere out there there is a flower/garden social network where they make fun of flora-ignorant folks like me! :-O

[Adina P]

How do you pronounce this flower's name? (Is it the one that sounds like a red rocket?)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

LOL! PEE-uh-nee!
They are much much bigger than carnations.

[Adina P]

But add the "s" to make it plural and I'm embarrassed I'd say it wrong!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Oh Adina, you are beginning to belong to the "they don't know a petunia from poison ivy camp".
But there is always hope.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I have never been a gardener... or even a flower person. But those are so, so pretty. I think it's safe to say my new (first) favorite flower, is a peony. I love, love those! They are so fluffy... and delicate. Oh my goodness. Where can I get some? :-)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I was so surprised to find out they didn't grow everywhere! I'm sure you can order peony plants on-line, but I don't know if they'd be suited for you area.
They are perennials, so they come back every year, and i have read that they have outlived their owners. They're also very easy care, and the foliage is attractive, too. And they come in many shades ranging from white through the deepest pinks and maroons. They are blooming all over my neighborhood. At my old house, I had white ones that peaked high in the centers, and they looked like big mounds of whipped cream! These have a really strong fragrance, which is new to me.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I wonder if these can be grown in a large pot or box on a balcony? I don't have a yard. And I live in Utah... I'll have to see if they grow here. I don't know what it is about them, but those are seriously the prettiest flowers I have ever seen. I guess I've always thought of flowers as daisies, or roses...

[Camilla and Darwin]

They do grow in Utah, but looks like they need a lot of space. Probably wouldn't work on a porch. Perhaps I will plant some in my parent's yard... that may be the next best thing.

[Lauria Orr]

I think these would grow fine in a large pot.

[Lauria Orr]

I live in Oregon and have 3 different peony plants. They are beautiful! 2 have just stopped blooming and I am waiting for a bright pink one to bloom.

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

According to this web site http://www.hiddenspringsflowerfarm.com/fragrant-peonies.html, peonies will grow in almost all North American zones. They do like to be chilled in the winter so they will flower. Here in zone 7 'tree' or 'rock' peonies do better as they don't require as much 'chilling'.