In praise of peonies

~ My virtually free-from kitchen
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Fuschia-pink peonies in full bloom. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

I hope you have all been enjoying some warm sunshine these past few days. The temperature has shot up in the UK and we have all been experiencing long, hot, summer days, and records have been broken every day this week.

I am away from home this week and I know that when I return at the weekend, the lush garden I left behind last Saturday will probably be looking less so. This week’s post is a look back at one of my favourite garden flowers, the peony, which I captured before I headed away.

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Sunlight through peony petals. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

There are 4 varieties of peony in the back garden. All have the delightful sweet fragrance that these blooms are renowned for, and to me, they are one of the quintessential old-fashioned blooms of  and established flower garden.

I hope you enjoy them 🙂

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Peonies and foxgloves. Image: Kathryn Hawkins

 

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4 perfect peonies. Images: Kathryn Hawkins

 

 

7 thoughts on “In praise of peonies”

  1. In Japan, the peony symbolizes good fortune, bravery, and honor. It is really a pretty flower with so many leaves, like a skirt almost. I hope your garden will not mind the hot weather so much. Here in France we are bracing ourselves for two days of high heat. My husband has been watering our peas and beans every evening, the latter looking very sad at the end of the day, even though they are somewhat protected by the shade of a neighboring walnut tree.
    Take care, Kathryn. Thank you for the beautiful photos.

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    1. Good to hear from you again. I arrived back home this afternoon, and all is well. Lots of watering has been done while I’ve been away, and things have really taken off. My beans are also looking sad. I thought runner beans liked the sunshine, but mine aren’t looking very healthy. All the best with the heat. Oh my, a walnut tree sounds so exotic! Have a lovely weekend 🙂

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      1. Actually, after many years of living here, we now have four fully mature walnut trees, and two younger ones. That is one of the things I love best about our garden: we get to eat our own walnuts.

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    1. Thank you. I know what you mean about lasting, but I’m pleased to say that this year we haven’t had the usual winds which blow them to pieces. The first flush of flowers have now faded, but there are more buds to come, so I may get a second wave. Have a good weekend 🙂

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