Our relatively cool and wet spring brought forth an abundant harvest of luxurious peonies this year. The blooms this year seem to contain especially dense multitudes of guard petals to protect the flowers’ sexual centers. The flowers appear to be at their peak here now and are being eagerly clipped and gathered to brighten up the homes of peony people.
Peonies are native to Asia and reportedly are known as “The King of Flowers” in China. They have been cultivated for thousands of years in what seems to be an evolution of ever-increasing complex beauty.
They’re not all show, however. In Asia, their seeds and roots have been used for centuries to treat headaches, asthma, and other ailments. Worldwide, their tasty petals have been consumed by many cultures in salads and as garnishes. They reportedly have a subtle strawberry/peach/peppery light sweetness, but I’ve never felt the urge to munch on them.
(Images taken in Brooklin, Maine on June 25, 2025.)