Peonies for a Summer Evening

The Summer Solstice begins shortly after Midnight, ushering in the longest day of the year.  The official beginning of Summer is 12:24am Eastern Daylight Time, Wednesday, June 21st.  This year, I'm welcominig Summer with a celebration of peonies.  For those in the Southern Hemisphere, where Winter is just beginning, think of these as giant snowballs!

White peonies always remind me of a garden performance of the Swan Lake ballet, with ballerinas in feathery white tutus. Peonies are the Divas of the garden.  They love the spotlight (the sun), and need to stand out (don't plant them next to a big tree that will compete with them for nourishment).

Peonies are one of the most beautiful flowers in the garden.  The word, "breathtaking" is often used to describe them. These voluptuous, complex flowers are also fragrant.  Their rose-like scent will perfume a room.  In the garden, peonies are most fragrant in the early morning.  Their oils evaporate in the heat of the day.

Before clicking my camera, I gave each blossom a quick tap with my hand, to scatter any ants...and there are always ants sheltered in the petals.  Ants are a good thing.  They eat the bugs that chew on the young buds, and for that good deed, they dine on the flower's nectar.  When cutting blossoms to bring indoors, turn the blossoms upside down, and give them a light shake.

Welcome Summer!

Photographs Copyright of:  Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.