peonies

Peony Hack!

Date: June 17, 2019
Author: Sweetwater Style
Categories: 10 min. project, flower arranging, flowers, peonies
It’s finally time!
The peonies are blooming!

Okay…We admit to being just a little peony crazy around here.
Maybe 20 plants is a bit of overkill, but each one is special. 

I love using peonies in arrangements.

BUT….

I hate how quickly the blooms fade or fall apart.

I tried this little hack this year and am quite pleased with it.

The trick is to let the glass container support the blooms.
That way the flowers stay together for a lot longer.

I love the way these colors are enhanced by the glass.

You may remember this vase from the arrangements of tulips using the same technique.

This rose bowl is the perfect way to use the trick.  The Coral Charm and Yellow Garden Treasure blossoms are particularly prone to dropping petals and fading.
These lasted for 4 days in the rose bowl.

Other People….parade pictures of grandchildren or vacations…..
Me….
just a few of my favorite flowers!

It is too bad that they don’t last longer.

I wrote a post a while ago about a way to keep some peonies in the refrigerator to extend the season.
Read about that here:  How to Extend the Peony Season

I didn’t feel that ambitious this year.  Maybe it is because my plants are blooming later this year and when they are done, there will be lots of other garden blooms to enjoy.

Anyway…I leave you with this thought!

Pinterest
Have A Blooming Great Day!

Peony Proud!

Date: June 7, 2016
Author: Sweetwater Style
Categories: flower arranging, flowers, garden, peonies
It is Peony time here at Sweetwater!
This picture probably says it all!

The side yard here is bursting with blooms.

Sadly they don’t last long enough….but if you take a minute to click on this link…
there is a way to make the season last a bit longer…

MY TRICK FOR MAKING THE PEONY SEASON LAST LONGER 

 

The Chinese name for peony means “beautiful” and in Chinese  culture the flowers represent riches, prosperity and honor. In Western culture,  the peony serves as the symbol for the 12th wedding anniversary, and in the  language of flowers, represents good fortune and a happy marriage. In Victorian  times, it might also have represented bashfulness, since mischievous nymphs were  said to hide in its magnificent petals.
So now you know…..I hope you are lucky enough to have some of these beauties in your yard!
Cut them and Enjoy!
Have A Wonderful Day!

Peony Time At Sweetwater Plus a Trick You Need to Know!

Date: June 9, 2014
Author: sweetwaterstyle
Categories: garden, gifts, peonies, wedding
Peonies are my absolute favorite flower!   When these flowers burst into bloom, it means that summer is really here. 
I always feel “rich” when these showy flowers bloom!  
They are the epitome of abundance!.  
If you don’t have a peony bush or two (or in our case 17), I would certainly think about planting one.  If you don’t have a garden, go visiting your friends who do.  
I am always happy to share my peonies…..because they don’t last long, they might as well be enjoyed!                                                            


A bouquet of these beauties make  great gifts….just in time for end of the year thank-yous and hostess gifts.

In fact….the Sweetwater Peonies were the flowers in the Sweetwater Daughter’s Bridal Bouquet!

Wonder how much money I save not having to go buy something?
Now I know why I spend all that time weeding!

Last year wasn’t the best year for our plants.  They just didn’t have the look of “excess” we are used to.  We did some fertilizing and got the support cages up early this year…..and I think it made a difference!

These are photos from a couple of years ago….as I write this….it is still so early it is too dark out take pictures!  I will get some shots later and update the post!

Garden Treasure

 Over the years we have added heirloom plants rescued from my mother-in-law’s yard when we sold her house. I think these plants came from her mother’s farm.  Another favorite is the yellow “Golden Treasure”, that was a father’s day gift.  We are gradually adding special variety plants like the showy “Coral Charm”.


Coral Charm

Enough with all the photos

DID YOU KNOW?  You can keep peony buds in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks and use them in arrangements anytime!  This is how florists are able to have peonies for such an extended time!

I learned this little trick 5 years ago when we needed to be sure to have a wide variety of flowers for my daughter’s wedding.

It is soooo simple!

Start by picking peony buds that are at “marshmallow stage”, meaning just at the time that you see color on the bloom.  Cut them quite long (at least 12 inch stems).  Wrap them in newspaper and put them in the refrigerator.  They will look wilted, but don’t worry!  When you want to use them, make a fresh cut on the stem and put them in water for 8-10 hours.  The water will start perk up the foliage and the flowers will open up….just like magic!

It really works….check out this post showing the flowers after they have been in the refrigerator for 3 weeks!

Before I go….look at the gorgeous peony paintings I found on this website!

They are simply beautiful….and reasonably priced too!
Now that would be a way to really extend the peony season….hmmmmmmm!
Have A Great Day!
Link Parties

Creativity Unleashed  I Am Not A Trophy Wife   

Peony Time At Sweetwater Plus a Trick You Need to Know!

Date: June 9, 2014
Author: Sweetwater Style
Categories: garden, gifts, peonies, wedding
Peonies are my absolute favorite flower!   When these flowers burst into bloom, it means that summer is really here. 
I always feel “rich” when these showy flowers bloom!  
They are the epitome of abundance!.  
If you don’t have a peony bush or two (or in our case 17), I would certainly think about planting one.  If you don’t have a garden, go visiting your friends who do.  
I am always happy to share my peonies…..because they don’t last long, they might as well be enjoyed!                                                            


A bouquet of these beauties make  great gifts….just in time for end of the year thank-yous and hostess gifts.

In fact….the Sweetwater Peonies were the flowers in the Sweetwater Daughter’s Bridal Bouquet!

Wonder how much money I save not having to go buy something?
Now I know why I spend all that time weeding!

Last year wasn’t the best year for our plants.  They just didn’t have the look of “excess” we are used to.  We did some fertilizing and got the support cages up early this year…..and I think it made a difference!

These are photos from a couple of years ago….as I write this….it is still so early it is too dark out take pictures!  I will get some shots later and update the post!

Garden Treasure

 Over the years we have added heirloom plants rescued from my mother-in-law’s yard when we sold her house. I think these plants came from her mother’s farm.  Another favorite is the yellow “Golden Treasure”, that was a father’s day gift.  We are gradually adding special variety plants like the showy “Coral Charm”.


Coral Charm

Enough with all the photos

DID YOU KNOW?  You can keep peony buds in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks and use them in arrangements anytime!  This is how florists are able to have peonies for such an extended time!

I learned this little trick 5 years ago when we needed to be sure to have a wide variety of flowers for my daughter’s wedding.

It is soooo simple!

Start by picking peony buds that are at “marshmallow stage”, meaning just at the time that you see color on the bloom.  Cut them quite long (at least 12 inch stems).  Wrap them in newspaper and put them in the refrigerator.  They will look wilted, but don’t worry!  When you want to use them, make a fresh cut on the stem and put them in water for 8-10 hours.  The water will start perk up the foliage and the flowers will open up….just like magic!

It really works….check out this post showing the flowers after they have been in the refrigerator for 3 weeks!

Before I go….look at the gorgeous peony paintings I found on this website!

They are simply beautiful….and reasonably priced too!
Now that would be a way to really extend the peony season….hmmmmmmm!
Have A Great Day!
Link Parties

Creativity Unleashed  I Am Not A Trophy Wife   

Sweetwater Garden Party!

Date: June 26, 2013
Author: sweetwaterstyle
Categories: cooking, entertaining, flower arrangement, flowers, friends, gathering, peonies, simple pleasures, Uncategorized
“A garden should make you feel you’ve entered privileged space — a place not just set apart but reverberant — and it seems to me that, to achieve this, the gardener must put some kind of twist on the existing landscape, turn its prose into something nearer poetry.”
― Michael Pollan, Second Nature: A Gardener’s Education 
 There really is something about a garden and gardening that makes you feel “really rich”!
June in the Sweetwater Garden is a time to celebrate….AND PARTY!
Take a peek at the fun get together I hosted on Monday!
A few friends from school with the admonition that we WOULD NOT talk about school!
And Kudos to my “Guest Photographer” who came with camera in hand!
It was pot luck…..

I love friends who bring tasty goodies to share!!!!

Fruit, vegetables, cheese and crackers…..

Plus a “little” decadence with the desert!

My contribution was my knock-off Chicken Cherry Pasta (click here for the recipe) 
It really is delicious….pasta, dried sweet cherries, rotisserie chicken and a sweet tangy dressing!
and
look how the Fitz and Floyd Rooster Plate makes the perfect serving dish for Caprise Salad!
Yum….Yum!
Then it was out to the garden to stroll around….
These good friends oohed and ahhed in all the appropriate places….ignoring the weeds!
And the “guest photographer” only took photos of the flowers…not the weeds!
Bless their hearts!
The wild and stormy weather has taken a toll on the peony bushes….so they don’t look quite as beautiful as other years….
 But the individual blooms are pretty anyway!
 When we were in the back woodsy area…..look who was watching us!
 Maybe this is why the chipmunk population is decreasing…..
oooh….I think Marvin will need supervision when he is on the deck…
although as you can see….he might be more than a mouthful!!!
All in all….a great time was had by all!!
The teacher in me just can’t stop the informational lecturing!
And thank you all for coming to my “virtual” Sweetwater Garden Party….
just sorry you couldn’t share the tasty food!
Have A Great Day!