🌸I can't even believe this beauties survived the snow storm in May and are in their glory right now! I just had to clip and savor their beauty. Too bad the cats love them as well.
Here's some really cool peony facts:
1) Peonies were initially grown for medicinal purposes. These blooms hail from China and Europe, where they were used to treat headache, asthma, and childbirth pain. 2) Peony Petals Are Edible. In China, the petals are parboiled and sweetened for use as a tea-time delicacy, in summer salads, or as garnish for punches and lemonades. 3) Peonies Attract Ants. But this more of a blessing than a curse, because ants play an important role in helping peonies bloom. Ants are attracted to the sweet nectar found inside peony buds; when they climb inside the buds, they help them open. Plus, ants help keep other (damaging) insects away. 4) Peonies Can Outlive People. Kept in optimal conditions, a peony plant can live to be over 100 years old. 5) When Clipping Peony Blossoms, Cut Sparingly. It’s easy to get carried away with these gorgeous blooms, but when you cut them, make sure that you leave at least three buds behind on every stem that you cut. Don’t remove more than half of the blooms from any clump, as this will critically damage food reserves. Enjoy!
