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.
at

12 comments:

  1. Seine Judeet (Judith)25 April, 2011 13:34

    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

    ReplyDelete
  2. Simon25 April, 2011 13:37

    We've only got tomato blossoms :¬(

    ReplyDelete
  3. A Lewis25 April, 2011 15:13

    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....

    ReplyDelete
  4. Moving with Mitchell25 April, 2011 17:15

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

    ReplyDelete
  5. Carolyn25 April, 2011 18:19

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Starman25 April, 2011 21:55

    Y'all are becoming quite the country folk.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mary26 April, 2011 02:23

    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 :-(

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous26 April, 2011 04:36

    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

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ur-spo26 April, 2011 07:15

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

    ReplyDelete
  10. Rick Bettencourt26 April, 2011 13:34

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  11. The Beaver26 April, 2011 15:13

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

    ReplyDelete
  12. Bill in CA26 April, 2011 18:02

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

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

    ReplyDelete

Tell me what you think!