I love this time of year.
Being outdoors and working in the garden is like therapy to me...good for the soul!
Two of my favorite garden shows are P. Allen Smith's Garden Home and Erica Glassner, the host of A Gardner's Diary which used to be on HGTV. (Why do they always cancel the good ones?)
From early on I've held fast to the advice of experienced gardeners when planting my garden. These shows, packed full of great information from good garden soil to pest control, led to me writing note after note in my own gardening journal which I refer to often.
One of the elements mentioned, time and time again, was to incorporate white and other light colored flowers in the garden. Not only are light colors beautiful with backdrops of green foliage, they become the star of the show in the evening.
As the sun begins to set in the evening,
green foliage darkens and light colored flowers shine bright,
like these peonies.
I was out feeding the fish in the pond one evening and they were like stars shining in the night.
So bright and beautiful!
Peonies are one of my favorite garden flowers with their lush green foliage and flowers the size of a cabbage. Some plants have been known to live up to 100 years.
Notice a couple of dark specks on this peony bud?
You have to look close.
You have to look close.
Ants!
They love peonies and crawl around on the flowers, feasting on the sticky sugars they secrete.
They love peonies and crawl around on the flowers, feasting on the sticky sugars they secrete.
Once the flower opens fully, the ants leave.
These flowers make for beautiful arrangements when cut and brought indoors.
Gorgeous pink blooms that shine at sunset!
Do you have peonies or other light colored flowers in your garden?
Hop over to see this weeks features and inspiration at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
Your peonies are so beautiful! I can't believe that they are already blooming. Have a beautiful day! Jo
ReplyDeleteI need some of these, they are gorgeous, however... I don't need more ants!
ReplyDeleteHi there, I had never had Peonies until we moved into our home last spring and now I have four big plant. Love them too. I think mine are white-they haven't opened yet. I was so happy they came back though; I didn't see ants last year, hopefully won't again this year.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your gorgeous flowers.
Noreen
They're gorgeous! I had one in TX but hated the ants. Have you ever planted moon flower? The white is so beautiful at night, the only time it blooms, and the flowers are huge.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
These pale pink peonies are just beautiful. I've noticed too that the light or white flowers really pop at night. Any amount of moonlight makes them glow. That's probably why they're sometimes sold out pretty fast at the nurseries. Enjoyed your post.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice!!! Ants and peonies go hand in hand. Glad to know it's best to bring them in when they are open. And corn...shuck the cobs outdoors, they are full of Daddy Long Legs--at least here in the Midwest!!!
ReplyDeleteJane x
Gorgeous!! I don't have any but I'm thinking of adding them on our pool deck.
ReplyDeleteSo so pretty, Cindy! I think I have a small peony bush. It has buds on it so I'll know when they open up! Have a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
I want some! I must learn to grow them. My MIL had beautiful ones. :-)
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous, thinking we will need to plant some at our new home. My husband has a very green thumb so I'm betting he could grown them. Happy weekend!
ReplyDeletePeonies are my life-time favorite flower, hands down. I am overseas this month and am so afraid I will miss their blooms!! Please hang on til I get back to Indiana!! The smell takes me back to my childhood. My grandmother had a very long row of them on a bank by the road and I would sit out there for hours watching the traffic go by and sniffing the flowers....and fighting the ants, lol. Nothing like a fragrant, super soft peony! Beautiful pictures ♥
ReplyDeleteYour peonies are lovely! I have a row of plants in my back yard that usually are in bloom for Father's Day. I love cutting them and bringing them into our home. Seeing yours makes me anxious for the buds on my plants to open. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI am amazed at how many people won't grow peonies because of he ants. The beauty is certainly worth a few ants.
ReplyDeleteI have a row of flowers along my driveway. They alternate between clumps of daffodils and peonies. Early spring, I get to see the daffodils come up and bloom, when they are done, I get to see the peonies come up and bloom.
I didn't know you were such an avid gardener and a green thumb to boot. Gorgeous peonies...I used to have them all along the side of the lakehouse until we had a huge "house lifting". So sad they weren't saved but I plan to plant more.
ReplyDeleteLove joining this week---finally! :)
Jane xxx