Peonies

There something wonderful about watching the ants work these herbaceous Peony buds in our backyard knowing that soon we will find a large billowy flowerhead that attracts butterflies. 

Peonies' foliage emerges in early spring. Ours typically open the last week in May or the first week in June. But many family members have peonies that open sooner.

Peonies come in many colors, and their flower forms vary from doubles to fringed singles and many in between.  Peonies prefer full sun, and this one, situated in our westside flower bed, gets more than 6 hours of sunlight a day. When in full bloom, the Peony above looks like this.

We also grow this variety.

While we tend to stick with whites with tinges of pink and with large yellow centers, my Aunt grows a rainbow of colors seen here on her table.

If you are looking for advice on planting Peony's, my best advice is to dig a hole 3 times as wide as they are and don't plant them too deep.