Peonies are starting to bare their souls here, even in the rain. For those who like garden flowers that are big, dramatic, varied, and long-living, peonies are a good choice. Some plants reportedly have produced flowers for more than 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, Maine, on June 22, 2023.)