Monday, April 25, 2011

La pivoine

The peonies in the back yard are starting to bloom now. Each year, when they begin to poke up through the rubble of winter, I know it's time to clean up the flower beds. The plants grow up for a few weeks before producing these large flower buds.

One of the peony buds just about to open.

Then, almost suddenly, the deep red flowers appear. They're of such a dark red color that it's hard to photograph them and capture it well. We have two clumps of pivoine, one of which we moved to a new location in the first years we were here. Now I'm thinking it's time to divide the other larger clump, so I might do that this fall after they die back.

12 comments:

  1. Ohhhhhhhhh .. pivoine! I didn't remember that this was the word for peonies. I have a lovely peony bush at the new house, and it's coming along beautifully this year... I can't wait to see its big, dark pink blossoms.

    Judy

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  2. We've only got tomato blossoms :¬(

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  3. Already??!! I thought we were about the same sort of climate but ours won't be up for a bit now. Peonies are in my top three. Definitely. They remind me of old, distant days, grandmother and a farmhouse. Instead of my iPhone laden life of now....

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  4. An old-fashioned flower. It reminds me of our gardens in Connecticut. Beautiful!

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  5. Memorial Day used to be called Decoration day where I lived, because people decorated the graves. There was (still is) a parade in my home town, and school classes marched to the civil war cemetery with bunches of flowers brought from home, which always included peonies.

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  6. Y'all are becoming quite the country folk.

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  7. I will eagerly anticipate the photos of this dark red pivoine, Walt. I wish I could see your dark pink ones, Judy!

    My favorite variety is
    Sarah Bernhardt (more of a light to medium pink). Mine are hopefully still blooming back in Illinois. I can't have any here; I would just be providing a lovely dessert for the deer :-(

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  8. I also love peonies but I think it's too warm here in Florida to grow them. Looking forward to your big blossoms, Walt.

    BettyAnn

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  9. I used to have peonies; what lovely gaudy flowers they were.

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  10. I just love the smell of peonies. I don't have enough sun to support them. Plus I'm sure the ants would attack them too.

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  11. I have a "Monsieur Jules Elie"- a heavy petaled pink plant and it is very fragrant - so it attracts ants .

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  12. I have no peonies...I don't like them.

    I'm with former Senator Ev Dirkson of Illinois; Marigolds, marigolds, marigolds everywhere.

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