In A Vase On Monday – Paeonia
Each Monday Cathy at Rambling In The Garden invites us to share a vase of materials gathered from our gardens.
The garden has been intoxicating recently, full of color and fragrance as peonies took their place among roses and irises.
Paeonia ‘Festiva Maxima’
Paeonia ‘Madame Emile Debatene’
Paeonia ‘Pink Parfait’ (Peony)
Simple vases of peonies in the house this week have meant pure delight.
Thought it looks appropriate for Valentine’s this red pitcher with heart decoration was just right to emphasize Paeonia ‘Festiva Maxima’ in all its flouncy fluffiness.
Paeonia ‘Festiva Maxima’
A second pitcher features P. ‘Festiva Maxima’ along with two pinks, P. ‘Madame Emile Debatene’ and P. ‘Pink Parfait’.
In A Vase On Monday – Paeonia
Paeonia ‘Pink Parfait’ (Peony)
Paeonia ‘Madame Emile Debatene’
Paeonia ‘Festiva Maxima’
Materials
Flowers
Paeonia ‘Pink Parfait’
Paeonia ‘Festiva Maxima’
Paeonia ‘Madame Emile Debatene’
Foliage
none
Container
Stoneware pitcher glazed with bands of cream, green, blue. (pitcher and 4 cups, Pringle Pottery, North Carolina, circa 1977)
Red pitcher with white hearts
We had some rain this weekend and Sunday the temperature was back down to 54F during the day after reaching into the upper 80s earlier in the week. The rain was much needed but it did leave the peonies tousled and soggy. There still are more buds and one other type of peony yet to open.
Thanks to our host Cathy at Rambling In The Garden for encouraging us to create and share our vases. Visit her to discover what garden surprises she and others are enjoying this week.
pbmGarden 
Your peonies are really beautiful!
Thanks Chris. They’re having a great year, much better than last year.
Not only am I enjoying their beauty, but I can almost enjoy their fragrance.
I’m not surprised the fragrance almost reaches you, Judy! They do smell delicious.
Pure perfection. Nothing else needed!
That’s what I though. Decided to let the peonies stand on their won. Thank you!
Your peonies are gorgeous. As we can’t grow them here, I will be enjoying yours.
It’s a delight to share these with you, Judy!
Delightful! Mmm, I can almost smell them. 😃
Wish I could share the scent with you Cathy! They carry a delightful fragrance.
Twofers seem to be a theme this week! You’ve started off my season of peony envy with a bang, Susie. I’d be thrilled to have either of those peonies in my garden. I thought that even the foliage of both my Mediterranean and Itoh peonies had completely disappeared but I unexpectedly discovered their foliage last week. I was pleased by that but any floral output is probably still a pipe dream.
It’s been a great spring for the peonies here. I’d love to invest in an Itoh at some point. Hope yours surprises you with flowers this spring.
Oh wow Susie, how glorious! I especially love the pink frilliness of ‘Madame Emile Debatene’. Are all three fragrant? How long will your peony season be in total?
Thanks Cathy. It’s a good year for peonies. The weather has cooperated and not been “too” hot. ‘Madame Emile Debatene’ is very elegant, a little more structured than the others. My first to open peony was Paeonia lactiflora ‘Coral Charm’ about mid-April, the last one will be Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’–its just starting to open today.
Be still, my heart! I adore peonies… don’t you wish their season lasted a bit longer? Enjoy your flowery abundance while it lasts. 🙂
Thanks Eliza. Peony season is lasting longer than usual this year but it would be nice to keep them going a while longer.
‘Festiva Maxima’ is the most popular of just three peonies that are commonly available here. I am too tired to remember the other two, but they are pink and red. Even though ‘Festiva Maxima’ has those red streaks in it, it just might be my favorite. The red makes the white look whiter. More importantly, although not very reliable locally, it is probably the most reliable, hence its popularity.
Agree ‘Festiva Maxima’ is popular. I was given this one in a plant swap but probably wouldn’t have bought it on my own. It is lovely though and now am glad to have it. I often see peony grab bags of white, pink and red but they don’t usually offer the name.
Some lovely Peonies there, and they do seen early.
Thanks Noelle. This has been a good year for the peonies, they’re blooming right on time for this area but have lasted better than usual.
Susie, this is just delicious. MMmmm.
Thanks Amy!
Missing my peonies so your vases certainly added some gladness to my day! That first one is adorable!
Thank you Donna. Glad you’re able to get a little peony fix here. It’s been a better than usual year for them.