Peony Love ~ Ideas to Celebrate A Favorite Flower

My peonies are in full, glorious bloom right now. The timing couldn’t be more perfect. I complained about a super-long winter, which led to a tardy spring. Normally, they would have been in full bloom a few weeks ago. We are stuck at home with multiple sick kids, leading to frustration. It feels like we are in a giant time out, that summer is gliding silently by. So, this morning I went outside and visited my blooms. I know they don’t last long, so I pulled my big camera out of hibernation and took a bajillion photos.

While waiting for the computer (Teddy was busy spawning wolves at Minecraft) and a chance to upload the pics, I searched for “peony” on my phone and learned all about these gorgeous flowers.

Peonies are edible. You can make ice cream with the petals. Want peonies on your breakfast toast? Spread a little peony jelly on top! I’m not sure I am brave enough to munch on petals from my yard, so there are also peony-inspired foods, like these pink peony popcorn balls and a peony cocktail.

Peonies are medicinal. According to WebMD, peonies are used for a variety of ailments. Once again, I’m not sure people should stuff their mouths with peonies, but it’s nice to know out there in the yard lurks a surefire cure for anal fissures. I think a lot of the medicinal affect is how happy inhaling the scent makes you feel? At least that is how it works for me. But, my little bit of research reveals peony root been in use for well over a thousand years. You don’t stick around that long without merit or results.

Peonies are full of meaning. “The peony is named after Paeon (also spelled Paean), a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. Asclepius became jealous of his pupil; Zeus saved Paeon from the wrath of Asclepius by turning him into the peony flower.” (straight from Wikipedia and all the teachers just groaned)

I don’t know. I would rather not be turned into a flower, even if the motivation was to save me from wrath. Why not turn the wrathful person into the flower and let the innocent party live and not end up curing someone’s anal fissures?

Peonies promote love and romance, according to feng shui experts. However, older couples should never, ever have a picture of a peony in their bedroom or else he will cheat on her with another woman. What flower picture can I put in my room to promote good sinus health?

Peonies are easy to grow. According to this article, peonies are “one of the most carefree of all the perennials.” They return year after year with little effort and actually thrive in colder climates! Take that, deep south with your Magnolias and stuff. I can attest to this because they magically appeared our first spring in the house and come back each year. We do nothing but cut them down in the fall. Someone obviously planted them, and I’d like to thank that person from the bottom of my heart.