“This morning the green fists of the peonies are getting
ready to break my heart as the sun rises, as the sun strokes them with his old,
buttery fingers.” Mary Oliver.
I wait, oh so patiently each year for the peonies in my
garden to bloom. I always say it was the peonies that sold this house to me
several years ago. They were in full bloom when I came to see this house, my
house. I turned around to Randy and Shannon and said, “I’m buying your house.” It
had only been on the market a few days when I saw the homemade for sale sign.
As soon as I walked through the front door, I knew it would be mine and I said
so. Randy asked if I would like to see the rest of the house.
“Sure,” I said laughingly! I had friends with me who were all shaking their
heads at my rash decision. The peonies clenched the deal.
It wasn’t a rash decision. I had been looking for three
years for the perfect house, the perfect neighborhood, the perfect garden. And
there it was.
I have since, of course, added more peonies and plants and
trees so that sometimes I feel as if I built a forest around me as in every
fairy tale!
On the morning of the first bloom, I go out to the garden
and recite the Mary Oliver poem. She is a favorite of mine, and I have her
poems pasted all over my kitchen cupboards. Sitting in the midst of a peony
patch gives one a different perspective on gardening, on life. Sometimes I
ponder the age-old question, how many more springs will I see these bloom?
Therefore, I cannot waste a moment of anticipation or pure joy from the
gardens.
My grandmother had peonies. I wonder if I paid much
attention to them as a kid. Maybe yes, Maybe no. But I do remember the fragrant
smell which filled her house. Mine is the same as bouquets fill the nooks and
crannies of my old house. The only problem with the peonies is they are
fleeting, as are all flowers.
Let’s look at the history of peonies starting with Indiana.
In 1931 the General Assembly designated the zinnia to be the state flower of
Indiana. I am definitely a big fan of zinnias! But the peony growers lobbied to
have that changed, and in 1957, once again the General Assembly gathered to
change the state flower to the peonies. This decision was based on the fact
that peonies bloom around Memorial Day which makes them the perfect compliment
for gravesites, planting or just setting out the blooms. Peonies have become so
popular that this past May was the fifth annual Indiana Peony Festival in
Noblesville. I need to remind myself of that so I can attend next year.
Let’s go back two thousand years ago. The first known
peonies were in China and were used for medicinal purposes. In the eleventh
century, the growers in China finally realized the pure beauty of the peonies
and aptly called them, “King of Flowers.” (I think I agree on that one!) It
wasn’t until the early 1800’s that peonies became popular in Europe and came
into North America by 1850’s.
In 1957 it became our state flower, and in 1986 Ronald
Reagan declared the rose to be our national flower.
Growing peonies in your own garden is very easy actually.
Choose a sunny location (6-8 hours of sunlight every day), well-drained soil
and lots of room to grow and expand. Peonies love long cold winters which help
to provide gorgeous blooms in the spring. Once they are established in your garden,
they really are no care at alI! I love taking rides out into the country and
always, always seeing peony bushes in bloom next to old houses abandoned or
otherwise. I often wonder who planted those beauties?
In my own yard, my peonies are the crowning jewel of the
garden. I go outside each morning to see the progress of the buds and then of
the blooms. I am sure I loved them as a child and now I love my own. Mary
Oliver captured the joy of peonies in her poem,
“Do
you also hurry, half-dressed and barefoot, into the garden, and softly
And exclaiming
of their dearness
Fill your
arms with the white and pink flowers…
To be wild
and perfect for a moment, before they are nothing, forever.”
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