Peony Season
Let's be honest, who doesn't love Peonies? Such a short season every year (May - June) that if you can, use them and love them while you can!
Named after Paeon, a student of Asclepias the Greek god of healing. Legend is that when Asclepius become jealous of Paeon, Zeus turned him into a beautiful flower to save him.
Not surprising Peony is the birth flower for May. Symbolising bashfulness and good luck, gift Peonies in May for a birthday or better still make sure your wedding uses them as the focal flower throughout.
Peonies are available in shades of red through to the palest pink, whites and rarely yellows/peaches and purple.
Struggling to get your peonies open? When peonies have been cut in tight bud (ideally they should be cut when they are just about to pop open) it can be a battle to get them open - but they will!
- Cut the stems at a sharp angle.
- Gently with a cloth soaked in warm water, wipe any sap from the head of the peony (this is sticky and can stop the flower opening).
- If the sap is holding the sepals tight against the peony head, gently peel the sepals away.
- Put the peonies in fresh water (even slightly warm water to get the water to the head quickly) and place in direct light. Keep an eye on them, if they are in the sun too long they may just pop open too quickly!
- Change the water and cut the stems every day for maximum effect.
- It is always a good idea to purchase peonies well in advance of when you want them so you can babysit them till they are open. At school we will usually have them at least 5 days before we need them.
- Buy your peonies from a Florist or a Flower Farm for the best peonies!