PEONIES FOR LONG-LASTING FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS

2016 was a banner year for peonies of all types--tree, herbaceous, and Itoh. I used them in several arrangements during May and June because they were so prolific. This mid-June arrangement was the last of the peonies, after more than a month of their beautiful, big and colorful blooms.

The five peony varieties used in this arrangement are pictured below: 

"Dinner Plate", a huge, clear pink, with blooms reaching 8" across--hence the name; "Mons Jules Elle", a beautiful bomb, with darker guard petals below the tuft of lighter petaloids; "Felix Supreme", a popular dark red; "Eden's Perfume", a soft pink with an enchanting aroma; and, last, but certainly not least, "Do Tell," a gorgeous semi-double bloom with pale pink guard petals and a tuft of several shades of pink, rose and white finely cut petaloids.

Peonies are one of the easiest flowers to grow. The plants look nice spring through fall, the foliage turning shades of golden in Autumn.  The stems are easy to work with, and are long-lasting in arrangements. In addition, when cut in the early bud stage, they are easy to keep for two weeks or more in a dark, cool place, or even in the refrigerator.  I have a refrigerator in my garage that I have for flowers. I keep the temperature at 40 degrees. 

Peonies are one of the longest living perennials. It isn't unusual for them to live 100 years or more, planted in the right place. I have some that are approaching that old, transplanted from my grandmother's.  

In my opinion, no garden should be without a peony or two.  

HERBACEOUS PEONIES IN SMALL ARRANGEMENTS WITH A BIG IMPACT

This square 4-5" glass container proves to be a great container for arrangements. Using lupines and allium with the herbaceous peonies, it holds a dozen or so flowers.

Using two-toned lupine, white allium, and the beautiful rose-colored herbaceous peonies of "BOWL OF BEAUTY," "SARAH BERNHARDT" and "MONS JULES ELLE" make a long-lasting arrangement for the May-June months here in zone 6.

Florist's dry moss can be used for the sides of the glass container to hide the wet florist's foam that was used in the arrangement, which will last well over a week.

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. 

PEONIES AND SIBERIAN IRISES IN SPRING BASKET ARRANGEMENTS

Continuing on with the floral arrangements of spring through fall, I take up where I left off:

Herbaceous peony "HONEY GOLD," paired with Siberian irises and a white dome allium make a sunny spring statement in early May. With big, beautiful peony blooms of up to 6-7" across, "HONEY GOLD" is a fully double easy-to-grow herbaceous peony, with white petals and a pure light yellow center, with white intermixed petals in a nice center tuft. Siberian irises "CAESAR'S BROTHER" and rosy purple "SPARKLING ROSE" each have a long vase life, as well as the white allium "WHITE MOUNTAIN," to go with the long vase life of the peony.

As always, cut flowers in the bud stage in early morning hours for a longer lasting arrangement, and use a floral preservative.

Keep out of direct light, and if possible, in a cool place. Snap spent irises off as they age, making sure you have plenty of buds to bloom in the coming days when you cut and arrange.

And, of course, enjoy!

HERBACEOUS PEONIES - Tinkled pink in spring arrangements

Huge, fragrant blossoms of herbaceous peonies are especially noticed for their beautiful colors. The weekly arrangement of May 24 features these vibrant reds, glowing pinks, crimsons, and a lighter pink. With blooms as big as 8-10" across, some may need to be staked, but others are held high on strong stems. Their early bloom and their magnificent foliage that lasts through the fall, turning glorious shades of golds and bronzes, make them much sought-after plants for the garden.

When fully open, the tallest light pink bud will be a huge, 8" bloom, with literally hundreds of petals.  Others will be semi-full, and others will be singles.  There are 10 different varieties in this arrangement, and, while in the bud,- they look very similar, upon opening, they will have their individual look.  

A variety of herbaceous peonies makes a long-lasting bouquet that can last for up to 3 weeks.

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!

SPRING TULIPS, DAFFODILS AND EARLY TREE PEONIES -- Perfect for colorful arrangements

Blooms that were available for the April 5th arrangement were some of my favorite single Triumph tulips-- Bright, dark rose, 24" 'Don Quichotte' and 26" bright yellow 'Big Smile.' My earliest tree peony, 'Sugared Silk,' with it's light pinkish buds open up to huge, white, silk-looking blooms with dark centers. Daffodil 'Mount Hood' a large, pure white award-winner with a lacy cup, and has long lasting blooms. Double daffodil 'Ice King' has a ruffled white petals and a fully double sulfur-yellow cup with white highlights. The flower container was a fun find at a local thrift store for 50 cents. I frequent the thrift stores to check out vases and have found some very nice finds. As always, cut flowers after the sun is down, or before it comes up.  Use a floral preservative, and cut stems on an angle for maximum water absorption.  This arrangement will last a week to 10 days.

FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS 2014--USING PEONIES, ROSES and LILIES

The last three weeks of floral arrangements include lovely spring peonies, first-of-the- season roses, Asiatic lilies and fillers of lupine, and allium.  As always, pick flowers after the sun has gone down, or before it comes up in the morning. Choose blooms that are in the bud stage, cutting the stem a 2nd time under water, then arranging with a floral preservative in the water. The first arrangement pictured sat outside in sunny conditions for an hour after the picture and you can see how the blooms have all opened up.

After an hour in a sunny area

White roses, yellow mum and asiatic lily

First hybrid tea roses of the season with peonies