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Peonies are gloriously at their best this month. An ‘open gardens’ event in a nearby village has reminded me how wonderful they are in full flower. Several of the gardens had these huge, flamboyantly colourful blooms and I couldn’t help wishing for a bit more space for growing my own.
I have to admit to having a red peony that is sulking because the shrub behind it has swamped it over the last couple of years. No flowers from it this year, so I reckon it’s going to have to be moved…where to I have no idea! (But I will find another space for it eventually.)
The flowers here were actually photographed last summer, in one of the large gardens that we visited then. I slightly prefer the gentle grace of these white flowers to the more gaudy colours, although all are beautiful. These fabulous white flowers would be lovely in a calm, relaxing space alongside other white-flowered plants. The idea of a restrained and soothing colour scheme is very appealing for a little retreat from the busy world! 🌼
Ann Mackay: Inspired by Nature 
This is the first I’ve heard of a peony—or any flower, for that matter—sulking. Is that uniquely your description, or do other gardeners also describe flowers that way?
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It’s a very common turn of phrase used over here when something doesn’t want to flower (usually because it’s not happy with the conditions it’s been planted in). Some things sulk for a while and then recover, but I don’t think this will, so I’m going to have to find it a new home somewhere else in the garden…tricky!
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I love the white ones, but have no room for peonies unfortunately. My neighbour has crammed a dark wine coloured one into a teeny tiny space and it is not being at all sulky.
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I think mine will be alright once I find it a space that gets enough light. (I may be able to trim the shrub that’s growing over it a bit, but I don’t want to spoil the shrub’s shape.
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Ah, yes. The human longing for more: more money, more time, or — more garden space! It would be hard for me to resist these white peonies, although the thought of eliminating something to make space for them wouldn’t be very appealing.
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I think that gardeners always wish they had elastic-sided gardens so that they could pack more in. I’m trying to train myself not to buy plants and then wonder where to put them – but that probably won’t work for long!
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That made me laugh — the buy first, figure out later syndrome. I suspect everyone’s experienced that at some time or other, even if the “thing” that’s tempting differs from person to person!
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Glad I’m not the only one, hehe!
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I recently came across a peony garden/provider in New Jersey called Peony’s Envy (https://peonysenvy.com/). I have two peonies in my garden, both white, and they do well, which makes me think I could try another color and plant near the two I have.
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Oh my, that site is full of beautiful temptations! 🙂 Sounds like your garden suits peonies well, so hope you find another that you love. (I’m sure that won’t be difficult!)
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I hope you will be able to find a new home for your skulker, Ann. She might be a diva who does not want to share the stage. 😊
What is the best time to transplant peonies? We need to thin out some of ours and forget each year.
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Tanja, the articles I’ve read on it say to transplant the peony when it’s starting to become dormant in early to mid autumn – just as the leaves are changing colour. Our sulky one will get transplanted this autumn to somewhere where she can shine. 🙂
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Thank you for the information, Ann. I will try to remember to transplant a few this autumn.
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The white peony is a beauty. I’d happily remove something else to put that one in my garden!
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Agreed Catherine, I reckon it would deserve the space! 🙂
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