I love peonies. They are my favourite flower. I don’t mind admitting that at the end of May/start of June I get very excited when we go to the shops because I may come home with a bouquet of these beauties. The peony ‘season’ is so short. Probably why I appreciate them so much more.
It’s funny how things can stay in your memory. I still remember the sunny afternoon when I first bought a bouquet of peonies. It was in the High Street (Strøget) in my hometown of Århus in Denmark. There is a flower stand on a corner and it’s been there for years and years. The guy is always shouting out the deal of the day. That’s where I bought the peonies. In Danish peonies are also called ‘bonderoser’ which means peasant roses. Not sure why they are called that…
I love this vase. The shape is perfect and the colour is so beautiful. Like a pale jade colour.
By the way, not that I’m an expert on flowers, but here are a few tips for making your peonies last longer in a vase. (Probably applicable to most cut flowers.)
Always remove any leaves that will be below the water; they will rot if they are in the water.
Cut the bottom of the stem at a steep angle to create a greater surface where the flower can absorb water.
Keep the flowers in a cool place, atleast to start, so they don’t open to quickly.
Change the water every other day and re-cut the stems too. You may have to find a smaller vase if the stems get too short.
Ok, that’s it. And now I’m going to bombard you with photos of peonies. I hope you won’t mind too much. :-)
PS: I love the peony leaves too. :-)