Without a doubt, peonies are my very favorite flower of all. While I love many types of flowers, the peony tops my list. Not only do they come in countless beautiful shades from pale pink to deep fuchsia as well as white and coral, they are undoubtedly one of the most romantic flowers. Lush, with an abundance of petals and intoxicatingly fragrant, peonies are a beautiful flower to behold. The season for peonies is quite short, particularly here in the South where they do not usually grow. I usually start keeping an eye out for them around mid-may and can usually find them here through the end of June. This year, I’ve had a harder time than usual finding them, so, when I found peonies at two different grocery stores over the past week, you’d better believe I scooped up more than my fair share. I love them and they truly bring me joy. So much so that last summer, when we photographed my house for my book in August, I ordered about 200 stems from a grower in Alaska so that I could have them for the shoot! More recently, I spent yesterday morning arranging peonies and dotted them around my house in the dining room, entry, and living room which you’ll see below. Are you peony addict as well? Which color is your favorite?
{Photography by Paloma Contreras for La Dolce Vita}
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Peonies are my favorite little bundles of beauty. I bought several bunches at Kroger and sadly some did not open. Do you have any advice when this happens?
Hi Caroline! Unfortunately, this happens sometimes and it can be hard to know if the flowers will open or not. If the buds at the store are super tight and feel hard to the touch, i usually won’t get them as i’ve experienced that they don’t always open. i have heard from florists and stylists that you can sometimes force buds open by running the heads under warm water, but that hasn’t always worked for me. Good luck!
when we moved to florida, i left behind a yard full of several dozen peony bushes. one bush gave me 62 blooms one year. they are the only thing i miss from my old house. if i had to pick a favorite, it would probably be the sarah bernhardt
Seasonal favorite of many! Try TJ’s for these & others, at reasonable prices.
I love the bluE glassEs on the table. Where are they from?
Très jolie publication.
Comment ne pas aimer les pivoines ?
Merci pour vos belles photos.
Gros bisous
LOve them!!
And I love how you cut the stems short and display them!
Bravo!!!!
Thank you, pENELOPE! thAT MEANS SO MUCH COMING FROM YOU! yOU HAVE EXQUISITE TASTE.
Absolutly Gorgious!
Every Day is a good day when such BEAUTY is shared.
would you mind sharing the resource for the blue glasses, please!
thank you.
Would you mind please sharing your source for the blue glasses?
Thank you!
Hi Kimberly,
I sourced them in Europe and bought them in multiple colors. I can order more from the vendor. If you’re interested, please email me.
Thanks,
Paloma
Paloma, love peonies….my favorities, too….hard to pick a favorite color…each is luscious….do like the deep pink, but the softer pinks and white get me as well…remind me of my wedding where the peonies were nearly as special as my bride.
Yes, i am a peony addict also. They remind me of my grEat grandmother who grew beautiful Peonies. My mother always brings them to decorate My great grandparents’ graves for memorial day.
I share your passion for this loVely flower, and also live in a part of the country where they dont grow and appearance in grocery stores is sHort lived! Have you eVer heard of Floret flowers from washington state? Most smazing growers and woRTh a gander at their instagrm
LongInG for peonies in austin