PEONIES--THE QUEEN'S OF THE SPRING GARDEN

There's nothing like a big bouquet of fragrant peonies in the spring! This 3-gallon tub is the perfect way to display the huge blooms of  6 different kinds of herbaceous peonies. The white allium and two-tone pink lupine finish the look. Peonies used are "SARAH BERHARDT," "PILLOW TALK," "MONS JULES ELE," "CELEBRITY," "EDULUS SUPERBA," and "BOWL OF BEAUTY."

I like using lupine and allium with these peony varieties. Cut peonies in bud stage, but also have a couple that are almost open for a good look from the first day. Allium will last up to three weeks in arrangements. Lupine should have half or more of the stalk in blooms when cutting.This arrangement will last up to two weeks if a floral preservative is used and it is kept out of direct sunlight. 

Peonies can be cut in a small bud stage, stripped of the leaves, wrapped in newspaper or damp paper towels, and kept in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or more until ready to use.  Plunge in warm water when ready to arrange. 

EARLY PEONIES FOR SPRING ARRANGEMENTS - Extra long-lasting in the vase makes these easy-to-grow flowers a must in the garden!

Each spring I am always happy when the herbaceous peonies bloom!  The weekly arrangement for May 17 is an assortment of early and mid-blooming peonies. In every shade of pink--from the lightest baby pink to the dark ruby red blooms, and every shade in between, these "queen of the garden" flowers are not only long-lived specimens in the garden, but they have an extra long vase life as well. Paired here with 3 different shades of pink lupine, this arrangement is a pink-lover's delight.

Cut stems in the bud stage, and immediately plunge into deep lukewarm water with a floral preservative and you will have a display that will last up to two weeks!

"Do Tell" herbaceous peony

"Doreen" and "Celebrity" herbaceous peonies

"Bowl of Beauty" herbaceous peony

"Dancing Butterflies" single herbaceous peony

"Festiva Maxima" herbaceous peony

"Mons Jules Elie" herbaceous peony

"Single Rose" herbaceous peony

"Celebrity" herbaceous peony

"Sarah Bernhardt" herbaceous peony

Peonies like to be planted in the fall because the energy then goes to the roots, not the leaves. Prepare the soil and amend, if necessary. I use a handful of bone meal in the hole, mixed in well with the soil. Don't plant too deep! A common mistake is planting the "eye" more than 2" under the soil. This will affect the bloom--in fact, the plant may not bloom at all if planted too deeply. Make sure that there aren't any big trees or bushes that will compete for nutrients near by. Your peony will be long-lived, so choose your planting site carefully--as they don't like to be transplanted. Then ENJOY!