Peonies seem to be at their peak in this area now. Here we peer into the soul of an unusual peach-colored peony in full bloom today:
For those of you who like your garden flowers big, dramatic, complex, varied, and long-living, peonies are a good choice. (Some reportedly still are producing flowers at the age of 100 years.)
Peonies (usually pronounced “PEE-uh-knees”) are named in honor of Paeon, the Greek god of medicine; and, indeed, their flowers and other parts have been used in Asian medicines and teas for centuries. The roots of white peonies are among the oldest known traditional Chinese medicines.
(Images taken in Brooklin and Blue Hill, Maine, in May and June , 2022.)