Last fall, I was browsing the clearance nursery stock. I came across a sickly, half dead peony plant for only $1. Not one to pass up a bargain, I purchased it. I'll be honest - I wasn't expecting much. But, I figured that I could gamble a dollar. I knew just where I was going to plant it - in the vacant spot adjacent to my garage. I brought it home, and immediately got to planting.
This spring, I was overjoyed to see the succulent sprouts emerging. I checked it every day, just waiting for buds to appear. One day after work, I noticed four small buds that had emerged. A few days later, there were ants crawling all over the buds - the tell-tale sign that the blossoms will open any day.
Today after work, I was finally rewarded: 2 gorgeous blossoms bigger than my hand, so heavy that the stalks bent over. And I could smell them half-way across my yard.
I just have one problem: how exactly do you pronounce peony? Is it pea-oh-knee or pee-a-nee?
12 comments:
beautiful, and what a steal for $1!
Cool! I like to buy unmarked flower plants from the mix bin at Lowes. Always a surprise when they bloom.
Gorgeous! Our two plants have buds, but no blooms yet-- I can't wait! I love them so much that I want to buy more plants, but they were $20-- too big a splurge. I need a $1 deal!
If the stalks bending over gets to be a problem, you can buy special metal frames with very wide "mesh" that you set over the plants in the spring before they come up that will keep them standing when covered with those gorgeous blossoms.
Oh, and it's PEE-o-nee- accent on the first syllable.
SO pretty! This is my favorite flower. I pronounce it the first way, but I'm from Texas so, you know, take that for what it's worth. ;)
Pee on ya's!! I like that one...tee hee
I think they are beautiful, way to get a bargain...hugs
Beautiful! I have no idea how to pronounce it, either...but I love them. :o)
It's pronounced PEE oh nee. Not pee OH nee, even though that's how most people pronouce it (incorrectly). I had to look it up to find out because it drove me crazy not to know. (And it's funny how many people will try to correct me when I say PEE-oh-nee.)
And yes, yours are GORGEOUS! I have a post on my peonies ready to post on Thursday. I just love them.
hey, I just found a website that says it out loud!
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/peony
I always though it was pee-a-nee.
My mom and I always joke about how the guy on the KSL garden show calls them peeOHnee - though it almost sounds like he's saying peenee. Anyway, that picture is beautiful! It's always hit or miss with plants on clearance - I've had them go both ways. I'm glad yours worked!
Beautiful picture!
I am BEYOND jillious!!!!! That is GORGEOUS!
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