CWS4322
Chef Extraordinaire
but I hate the ants...my grandma had peonies lining her front porch. What she taught me was to cut the peonies before they opened (so when they are close to opening, but not open). Before she'd go outside to cut the peonies (she'd look out the front window every morning to see if it was time), she'd fill the kitchen sink with cold water and vinegar. She'd cut the buds and bring them in. She'd dunk them in the sink to get rid of the ants. She'd then put the peonies in a vase. The next day, the peonies would be open. (If you add too much vinegar, they turn brown--I use about 1-1/2 quarts to a sink of water).
One of the first things my mom did after her mom died (in the month of May), was to dig up the peonies, irises, and bleeding heart. My mom moved those plants three times. At one of our houses in the city, I have transplants from those plants. I have divided them and given them to friends--insurance if mine die off, I can get my grandma's plants back.
Here at the farm, I have a huge (probably 50-60 yr. old) peony outside my office window. I have been watching it all week. Last night, around 7 o'clock, I went out and cut the "buds," dipped thiem in the water-vinegar wash, and put them in a crock and put the crock on the woodstove. When I got up this morning, the peonies were open. I just did another bouquet for my office...
My grandma also dressed her peonies with ashes from the woodstove. And, she never divided them. She was convinced doing so would kill them. However, I have transplanted peonies. I've also divided them. Even though it is recommended you do this in the fall, a friend dug out her peonies last June and was going to toss them. They were flowering. I planted them--doubtful. They came back this year. No flowers, but the roots survived. It often takes 3 years for peonies to flower after being transplanted. I'm hopeful that that plant will also flower sometime, just not this year.
I love peonies. They remind me of my grandma.
One of the first things my mom did after her mom died (in the month of May), was to dig up the peonies, irises, and bleeding heart. My mom moved those plants three times. At one of our houses in the city, I have transplants from those plants. I have divided them and given them to friends--insurance if mine die off, I can get my grandma's plants back.
Here at the farm, I have a huge (probably 50-60 yr. old) peony outside my office window. I have been watching it all week. Last night, around 7 o'clock, I went out and cut the "buds," dipped thiem in the water-vinegar wash, and put them in a crock and put the crock on the woodstove. When I got up this morning, the peonies were open. I just did another bouquet for my office...
My grandma also dressed her peonies with ashes from the woodstove. And, she never divided them. She was convinced doing so would kill them. However, I have transplanted peonies. I've also divided them. Even though it is recommended you do this in the fall, a friend dug out her peonies last June and was going to toss them. They were flowering. I planted them--doubtful. They came back this year. No flowers, but the roots survived. It often takes 3 years for peonies to flower after being transplanted. I'm hopeful that that plant will also flower sometime, just not this year.
I love peonies. They remind me of my grandma.
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