The peony is one of my little spring pleasures. What a joy to come back from the garden with an armful of multicoloured flowers to make into bouquets. In good conditions, they last a few days in a vase, five days at most, but have incomparable charm and generosity. Today I share my tips for making beautiful peony bouquets!
Peony bouquet combined with foliage of an Eucalyptus parviflora.
1/ Choose peonies while still in bud, nicely rounded but not too tight. Buds will open in the vase, giving you longer enjoyment.
Peony bud slightly open; it will open in the vase.
2/ Remove leaves from lower part of stem; they must not sit in water.
3/ Cut stems at an angle with sharp scissors to optimise their hydration.
4/ Peonies need plenty of water: fill the vase well and, if desired, add a pinch of bicarbonate of soda.
5/ Change water and recut stems a little each day.
6/ Keep bouquet in a cool place, out of direct sun.
Peony is a flower that stands on its own. For a bouquet, you can use it alone or mix different colours. You can also combine it with other flowers: gypsophila, lilac, astilbe, cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris), small-flowered roses, Alchemilla, Smyrnium perfoliatum, spirea branches, or fern fronds or eucalyptus stems. Let your imagination run free!
Examples of happy pairings: pink peony with Alchemilla mollis (left) and with Smyrnium perfoliatum (right).
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