Making potpourri from your own peonies is not difficult. You’ll just need a little patience and diligence. When you’re done, you’ll have some wonderful custom-made potpourri to place around your home or to give to friends and family members.

First, you’ll need to collect your peony petals. Choose flowers that are at their full maturity, but don’t wait until they’ve started wilting or turning brown. Collect about one gallon of petals. Spread them out on a drying screen and place them in an area with low humidity and good air circulation. If you don’t have enough peony petals, you can add petals from roses, tulips, or other flowers. Another nice addition is dried peels of lemons, oranges, tangerines, or limes. Just make sure the petals are in a single layer on the screen so that they’ll dry properly. Allow the petals to dry until they’re crisp. This might take two weeks. Discard any petals that have turned brown.

When your petals are completely dry, place them in a one-gallon jar that has a lid. A clean, dry pickle jar with a screw-on lid works well. Sprinkle the petals with dried powdered orris root, a fixative that will help hold your potpourri’s scent. You can find this product at a craft store or at most drug stores. You’ll need about one tablespoon of orris root for every quart of dried petals.

Once your dried petals are in the jar and the orris root has been added, you’ll need to add peony essence oil. You can find this product at craft supply stores. For each quart of petals you have, use about ten drops of the oil. Use an eye dropper to add the oil, one drop at a time. Gently stir the petals after each drop of peony oil is added to ensure that the orris root powder and the oil are well distributed. Be careful not to crush the petals as your stir.

When you’re done, place the lid tightly on the jar and allow it to “cure” for at least four weeks before opening the jar. This will intensify the aroma and give your potpourri a longer life.

When the potpourri has cured, you can remove it from the jar. Place it in smaller decorative jars, little baskets, clear vases, bowls, or sachet pouches. Homemade potpourri makes great gifts, and the colors can be designed to reflect the seasons and specific holidays, depending on the color of the flowers used.

Peony Potpourri

The inherent beauty of the peony has not gone unnoticed by famous artists, either. They have graced many canvases throughout the years and appear in many paintings. Some of the more renowned examples of peony in art:

Peonies, or Pivoines. This painting was created by Pierre-Auguste Renoir in 1880. It’s oil on canvas and depicts a bowl of peonies on a white tablecloth. The artist used muted shades of pinks and salmon to create the blossoms. Much foliage is present, in shades of sage. The original painting measures 21.6 x 25.7 inches.

Peonies, Lilacs, and Tulips. This is another beautiful floral by Renoire. The tall vase of flowers and foliage is artfully depicted in front of a large mirror, providing two views of the subject.

Vase with Poppies, Daisies, Cornflowers, and Peonies. This oil on canvas was painted by Vincent van Gogh in 1886. The 39 x 31.1-inch work features an asymmetrical flower arrangement in a tall container. Van Gogh chose shades of vibrant red, light blues, pale pinks, and off white. Beside the floral arrangement, bunches of cut flowers are resting on the table.

Vase de Piviones, or Vase of Peonies. This is an oil on canvas that was done in 1881by Henri Fantin-Latour, who was famous for his florals.

White Peonies and Roses Narcissu. This another work by Fantin-Latour. Many of his paintings of flowers are hanging in English museums and galleries.

Peonies. This work was painted by William Merritt Chase, a prominent nineteenth-century American artist. This painting was done around 1903 and serves as a symbol for the transience of life itself. In the vase, vigorous blooms are depicted, yet on the table are wilted petals and a fallen blossom.

Bouquet of Peonies. This work was painted by Edouard Manet and is one of his most famous florals. It was created in 1882, near the end of the artist’s life.

Bouquet of Peonies Edouard Manet

The Flower Girls. This painting by Russian artist Alexie Harlamoff was painted around the turn of the twentieth century. It depicts peasant children surrounded by cut flowers as they assemble them in baskets to sell on the streets. Several flower species, including peonies, surround the children.

The Arrangement. This is another oil on canvas by Harlamoff. The subject matter is similar to that of the above painting, except that in this work, the human subject is a lone peasant girl, perhaps in her teens. Harlamoff began life as a serf. In the last decade or so, his works have gained world-wide acclaim. This particular painting recently sold for over $1 million.

Peony and Canary. This work is an example of woodblock printing popular in Japan since the 1600s. This print was created by Katsushika Hokusai in either 1833 or 1834. The original woodcut used simple flowing lines to detail the single peony flower and the leaves.

First of all, it’s important to select the right blooms for drying, no matter which preservation method you choose. Select flowers that have newly bloomed, when the petals are just beginning to exhibit their color. Choose the most perfect specimens you can find – ones without blemishes or signs of disease or insect infestation. Cut the blossoms with sharp scissors or shears, trying not to crush or damage the stems. Leave about six inches of stem on each flower for air drying, and remove any leaves. For other drying methods, it’s best to remove the stem and to dry the flower heads only. Make sure the flowers are free of dew before using a drying process.

Peony Petals

The easiest way to preserve your peonies is by air drying them. Simply gather five or six peonies into a bunch, and secure the bunch with a wide rubber band or by tying twine around the stems. Hang the bunches upside down so that air can get to all sides of the flowers. You might want to suspend them from a beam or from a clothes hanger. Allow them to dry in a dark place to maintain good color. You also need to choose a place that’s low in moisture. Hanging the flowers in a basement is just asking for mold. Depending on the humidity level of their drying place, the peonies will take from one to four weeks to completely dry.

By drying your peonies in silica gel, more natural color will be maintained than from air drying. Silica gel closely resembles coarse salt, and it’s very absorbent. You can find it at most any craft store. Place about three inches of the gel in a plastic container that has a sealable lid. Place your peonies, face up, in the gel. Don’t let the flowers touch each other. Carefully add more silica gel to the container until the flowers are completely covered. The gel has to get to all sections of the blossom, so you’ll need to GENTLY shake the container from side to side to shift the gel around. Place the lid on and allow the blooms to dry. It takes an average peony two or three days to dry in silica gel.

Another method for silica gel-drying involves the microwave. Place three inches of the gel in a deep plastic or glass container. Each flower head should have its own little “nest” in the granules and should be supported by the silica gel. Place the container of flowers in the microwave, along with a cup of plain water. Set the water in the corner of the microwave. Microwave drying times vary widely. Check your blooms after two minutes. Once the flowers have dried completely, remove the container from the microwave, place the lid on, and allow the flowers and the gel to cool for several hours before removing the flowers.

Peonies are found in various places in the Northeast and Midwest, but can be cultivated in the south. Climate does have an effect on the results, though. Similar to lilacs, peonies require a winter chilling phase of a particular length for them to be able to set buds. The hot summers and cold winters of the Midwest are just great for effective peony care. To plant peonies, select an area that gets at least half a day of full sun. In warmer climates, they’ll thrive better with a bit more shade. Early fall is considered the best time to plant. However, planting in early spring would also be suitable.

Peony Care

Basic Peony Care

Since your peonies will be in their selected spot for years to come, it is advisable that you prepare the soil really well. If your peonies fail to bloom after a couple of years, make sure that they have not gone too deep into their bad or had excessive amounts of soil build up on top of them. Another contributing factor to late blooming is not getting enough sun per day.

When cutting peonies, snip when the buds are just starting to display indications of unfolding. Once in water, the blooms will unfurl fast and endure for about seven days or more indoors. Putting the bouquet in a cool area (or even in the fridge) all night will assist in extending the bloom.Continuing Peony Care

Continuing peony care for established peonies is rather simple. They don’t have an excessive amount of insect problems, though care must still be taken. For instance, you should stake your plants, especially if they are exposed to a lot of wind. They may droop down by the soil and can get attacked by ants that consume the petals before they can even open up and show their gorgeous size and color. Part of good peony care is providing your plants with fertilizer every year in the spring. Also, you should cut them back to the soil in the fall after the leaves have turned brown. It is equally important to eradicate any remains such as dead stalks. Subsequent to wintertime, place a mulch over the peonies, take it away in the spring and much again for summer regulation of weeds and to lock in moisture.

If you have received peonies, utilize a sharp knife to chafe and split the stem ends, and then immerse them in lukewarm water for a number of hours to enhance water absorption and the unfurling of the blooms. Move stems to cool water-place fresh cool water until about halfway in a clean vase. Sprinkle a pack of plant food into the vase. Take away any leaves that goes under the waterline. Utilizing a sharp knife, clip the stem ends underneath the water surface (to prevent air bubbles affecting water absorption) at 45 degree angles. Finally, organize your peonies as preferred.

Every 2 to 3 days, recondition your peonies. Clip the stems again, replace the water and feed the plants. You’d want to make sure you store flowers in a cool spot. As you can see, peony care is easy and simple.

Peony Tea

What Sets the White Peony Tea Apart

White peony tea, generally referred to as Pai Mu Tan in China, is a delicate tea deriving from the tea buds gathered and withered before opening. The most current research studies indicate that white tea may be more successful in warding off cancer compared to green tea, which has for a long time been revered to fight against cancer. These studies have increased the popularity of white peony tea.

Similar to the silver tip white tea, white peony tea is usually produced at Furding and Zhenghe locations in the Fujian province. White peony tea is a palatable white tea that comprises of buds and leaves that are picked in the early spring and in some cases mixed with the buds and leaves taken from the daffodil. The silvery bud is wrapped up in green leaves, and it appears to be a flower. When steeped, the green leaves open up and unfurl, akin to the petals of a flowering peony. White peony tea is naturally fresh in fragrance, orange yellow or light yellow in color and invigorating and mild in taste. The tea can also be used for medicinal purposes, especially in preserving a healthy stomach and driving out excessive heat.

Tea has been a well-liked drink in different parts of the world for hundreds of years. Europeans have usually sipped on black tea. More and more people have embraced Green and Oolong teas recently. All tea actually derives from the plant known as camellia silensis. Although there are different types of this plant, tea varies usually by the way it is processed. White tea is plucked before the leaves of the plant have unfurled completely. At this point the buds are enclosed in fine white hair, providing the tea its name. It is highly unfermented. The leaves are plucked and left to wither, instead of being cooked fry. The fraction of buds to leaves establishes the type of tea. For instance, white peony tea has one bud for every two leaves.

White tea in general is dissimilar to green and black tea in a way that it is not furled. The fresh leaves are allowed to wither for a number of days. Because it is not cooked, so to speak, white tea may have more effective antioxidants compared to other kinds of tea. While there is still no concrete conclusion on the positive effectives of white tea, more and more are beginning to embrace it as a possibly immense health enhancer. White tea is known to have high levels of catachins, which are recognized for aiding in the reduction of cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

To brew white peony tea, begin with a good quality loose tea and clean, filtered water. Peony white tea is best brewed with warm water: anywhere between 170 and 185 F.  Cautiously take out the top of your kettle. When little bubbles are developing on the surface or when they are traveling up from the bottom, this is when you have reached the right temperature. Usually these teas are very lightweight and you have to make certain that you employ sufficient amounts of leaf to the container. The next step is to steep for approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Enjoy your white peony tea in the evening after a light dinner.

Peony Plant Problems

Common Problems of the Peony Plant

The peony plant is a solitary genus in the flowering plant family. They are generally found and grow predominantly in Asia, western North America and southern Europe. Nearly all peonies are herbaceous perennial plants growing up to 0.5 to 1.5 meters high. However, some peonies are woody shrubs that could reach around 1.5 to 3 meters high. Peonies are some of the most attractive and admired flowers due to their large and rounded, full blooms and wide variety of colors. Their leaves tend to be shiny and deeply lobed, so that they resemble beautiful lacework. Regardless of how pretty a peony plant can be though, it can suffer from some problems.

Problems are actually not more prevalent among peony plants, as these contain all the characteristics gardeners recognize most in perennials. They have aromatic flowers, endure for a very long time and are simple to grow. In addition, they are resistant to deer, drought and cold hardy. Despite these strengths, peony plants still need to be taken care of, as with most other garden plants.

Probable Causes And Risk Factors

There are several possible reasons as to why your peony plant might have some type of problem. It may be planted at the wrong depth, and may also fail to set flower buds or may still be too young. Furthermore, the peony plant may not be receiving enough sun, or it is receiving too much nitrogen. It may be suffering from a late freeze. It may be situated in a spot that is too crowded, or it may have been relocated or divided recently. Other possible causes of peony plant problems include being exposed to either excessively cold or hot temperatures, being exposed to too much water, damaged open flowers, chafers, thrips and broken or fallen stems.

Peony Plant Diseases

Peony plants can suffer from a number of diseases. They can suffer from botrytis blight, which is caused by the fungus Botrytis that affects the buds, stems and leaves. They can also suffer from phytophthora blight, which is also caused by a fungus known as Phytophthora cactorum. The buds, stems and leaves are also being attacked in this case, except that there is no felty proliferation or sporulation on the surface of the plant when in a moist surrounding. Wilt is yet another condition caused by a fungus, which is a soil-borne fungus called Verticillium albo-atrum. White mold can affect the stem and cause it to rot. Moving on, peonies can have leaf and stem spots, which are this time caused by numerous fungal organisms. The spots can differ in size and color and may be found on leaves, stems, flower petals and bud scales.  The peony plant can also suffer from virus disease.

Peony Plant Care

Examine your peony plant consistently and as soon as you notice any suspicious infection or attack. The earlier you notice any changes, the better you can treat your plant effectively. Make sure you provide the appropriate drainage to avoid wilt, as this often occurs when the surroundings are moist and poorly ventilated. Slice off any infected stem and shoot right away. Make sure you completely eliminate all infected plant material, including remains like leaves and roots. Finally, you need to change the existing soil that has been infected and think about re-planting your peonies on the same spot.

Perennial Gardens

A Novice Guide to Perennial Gardens

Not many other things amuse gardeners more than persevering for the annual return of their perennials. Perennials are quite different from annuals in a sense that they come back each year, getting rid of the requirement in purchasing new flowers each spring. This is what makes perennial gardens desirable for both novice and expert gardeners.

Some Ideas for Perennial Gardens

Showing perennials would of course be one of your first considerations. With such a wide range of perennials to select from, gardeners have almost no boundaries when it comes to selections for showing these beautiful plants. Gardeners can choose to organize their perennial gardens to that people can view and take pleasure in every plant available in their garden. For this idea you may situate the loftiest plants in rear of a border that is seen mainly from the front. You may situate lofty plants at the center in an island bed seen from all sides.

You may place medium height plants into the center of a border/island bed, packing up the garden in front of the loftier plants. Place small plants up front, where bigger leaves or flowers won’t cover them. To give interest to perennial gardens, gardeners often mix up various perennial shapes, sizes and forms. These are just a few ideas for you to consider. Be creative and develop your very own, unique perennial garden. You may do things like interplant perennials for different appearances each year or use perennials that can withstand lots of shades so that their lush green “backdrop” can enhance the color their flowers.

Planning Perennial Gardens for the Novice

There are some fundamental steps novice gardeners should take when developing their first perennial gardens. Although expert gardeners would often advice to first organize an intricate plan of your preferred garden, you don’t necessarily have to follow rigid rules to obtain a great garden. Actually, what you need to focus on for now is to choose your garden area and study more about plants that may work well in this area. A plan will be required afterwards. You may choose a wall, fence, an area around a tree or in the center of a yard to plan out your garden. Take note that plants thriving near a tree will have to compete for nutrients and water with that tree, and so make sure those plants are not those that generally cannot handle the competition (i.e. peonies).

The next step is to consider how much natural sunlight you want your garden to receive. You may want full-sun, partial sunlight or more shade. In this case, you’ll need to know how many hours in a day the area may receive morning sun, and so on. Again, you’ll need to choose the appropriate plants for the amount of sunlight/shade you want in your garden. Once you’ve established all those things for your potential garden, you may now start working on your site by removing weeds and/or grass, employing soil necessities and planting. Make sure you use the right type of soil-it should be suitable for the plants you want to incorporate in your garden.

Perennial gardens can generate interest and a refreshing new look to boring back/front yards. And the best part is, they are really not complicated to work on and start reaping their breathtaking rewards.

If you’ve ever wondered if you can make your very own peony perfume, you definitely can! Peony perfume can be perfect for casual wear to formal events. The first thing you need to do is to prepare your workspace. Use plastic sheets, newspaper or other types of shielding products to prevent spoiling or damaging whatever is underneath. The solutions and materials you’ll be using in the project can spoil fragile surfaces, so make certain that you safeguard your workspace well.

Peony Perfume

Peony Perfume In A Bottle

To get started, pour 3 tablespoons of vodka and 2 cups of water into a clean measuring cup. Employ 12 drops of peony essential oil, 4 drops of musk essential oil and 8 drops of sandalwood essential oil into the solution. Furthermore, add 4 drops of glycerin, which will be the fixative that will assist in preserving the peony perfume. Mix the solution and see if the aroma that comes out of it is to your liking. By now you should be able to do some trial and error and simply observe if the scent will improve for you if you add any more of a particular essential oil or two. Slowly place the perfume into a dark glass container with a secure cover. Shake the container and put it in a dark, cool area. Enable the peony perfume to set for a minimum half a day before use.

Peony Perfume Potpourri

Traditionally, a potpourri is often used to disguise distasteful odors as well as deflect diseases. There are both moist and dry potpourri, and these days dry potpourri is more popular and also much simpler and faster to make. Peony perfume is a popular scent and so many people like to use peony materials when making potpourri. Peony materials are often added to other types of flowers to create a distinct scent. Make certain that all plant material you’ll be using are entirely dry. You’ll need fixatives as well, which are actually any material that can hold the scent in for a longer period. In this case you may employ dried orris root or gum benzoin. For the fragrance itself you may include province roses and lavender together with your peonies. Not only are peonies natural fragrant, but they are also great for adding color to any potpourri. Peonies are widely known for their bursts of beautiful and highly attractive colors such as red and yellow. To add a bit of bulk, mix in some sage, thyme, bay and mints.

It is often preferred to show a potpourri in a clear jar with a lid, taking away the lid whenever an area needs to be scented. Containers are good because they are able to hold in the peony perfume. Baskets are also a good choice. Though they cannot preserve the scent as effectively, they can add instant country style to your home. There are so many other alternative ideas, such as placing your potpourri in small, decorative pillows or sachets.

And there you have it, some fun peony perfume projects you might want to try on your own! Using peony perfume as either a body fragrance or home “masking” scent is not only delightful to the sense of smell but also highly economical and environmentally friendly compared to synthetic perfumes.

Chinese Peony - History

History Of The Chinese Peony

The peony is indigenous to southern Europe, western North America and Asia. The majority of peonies are herbaceous perennial plants, however, there are other types of peonies, which can be distinguished easily by their loftier height. Tree peonies are more like woody shrubs that can grow up to 1.5 to 3 meters tall. Peonies typically have deeply lobed leaves and massive, usually sweet-smelling flowers, varying from yellow to white to red when they are in bloom. The peony has been attached to various cultures in legends and through admiration. Peony flowers have been used as ornamental designs in one of the national emblems in China. Together with the plum blossom, the Chinese peony is a traditional floral symbol of the country. The Chinese peony is widely referred to as the “flower of riches and honor.”

The Chinese peony can be found in several works of art in China. In 1903, the Qing Dynasty announced that the peony become the national flower. Presently, the Republic of China in Taiwan assigns the plum blossom as the national flower, while People’s Republic of China has no legally assigned national flower. In 1994, the Chinese peony was planned as the national flower after a countrywide poll, however, the National People’s Congress failed to confirm the option. In 2003, another plan has been set to choose what the national flower should be-a decision is still yet to be made.

The Chinese Peony in Art

The exquisiteness of the peony flower has long enthused artists in both western and eastern culture. Preceding the 17^th century though, it was the artists of China and Japan who employed images of the peony into their creative endeavors. The Chinese peony is basically the national flower of China and is usually mentioned in poetry and literature. Peonies are some of the major motifs of Chinese decorative arts and have been employed in screen paintings, porcelains, woodblock, clothing and tapestries.

Both herbaceous and tree peonies were brought to Japan at the start of the 8^th century. The Japanese soon started employing imagery of the peony into their tapestries, porcelains and paintings. The peony was also the theme of several poems and constantly employed in Japanese literature. At present, the peony continues to be an extremely prevalent subject matter in Japanese art.

The Chinese peony as art was introduced to the Western world at a much later date and has never reached the same extent of utilization compared to in China and Japan. Nevertheless, when a particular type of tree peony started to increase in popularity in Europe in late 18^th century, artists started to incorporate them into their paintings.

The Chinese Peony and Medicine

As you may have noticed, Chinese medicine and herbal solutions are continuing to gain acceptance in the Western world. In Chinese medicine, the peony is known to offer several health benefits. The peony is utilized currently as a single cure or in amalgamation with other herbs to alleviate emotional-nervous conditions. The Chinese botanicals have been among the most remarkable as observed through sufficient documentation over the decades. The peony is known to especially treat memory problems. As it means “most beautiful” in Chinese culture, the Chinese peony is also considered a powerful medicinal property.

Peony Flower

The Story Behind the Admired Peony Flower

Peonies are comprised of deeply lobed leaves as well as massive, usually aromatic flowers, varying from white to yellow or red, in late spring and early summer. Previously, peonies were usually categorized in the family Ranunculaceae, together with Anemones and Hellebores. Peonies have distinctively glossy and lacy leaves, but it is the peony flower that has captured the hearts of gardeners and flower enthusiasts.

Description and Symbolism of the Peony Flower

The history of the peony flower goes back all the way to thousands of years. So it’s not unexpected that even the mythology associated with the origin of the plant has various adaptations. A particular legend tells of a story of a physician to the gods who was given the peony flower on Mount Olympus by the mother of Apollo. In the legend, the physician’s name is Paeon, which is where the term “peony” was supposedly derived from. Another adaptation of this same legend describes the physician who was rescued from the doom of death as other mortals by being made into a flower, which we now refer to as the peony flower.

The peony flower has been referred to as several things in previous decades and centuries. In fact it has become the traditional floral symbol of China, the state flower of Indiana and the traditional 12^th wedding anniversary flower. It has been widely attached to the meaning of wealth and honor. With their luxuriant, generous and rounded bloom, peonies symbolize success and romance, and are also considered a sign of happy marriage and good fortune.

The traditional floral symbol of China, the state flower of Indiana, and the 12th wedding anniversary flower, peonies are known as the flower of riches and honor.  With their lush, full, rounded bloom, peonies embody romance and prosperity and are regarded as an omen of good fortune and a happy marriage.

Helping The Peony Flower Bloom

The peony flower is unable to successfully bloom for several reasons, including failure to mature. A peony needs to stay in the same spot for a minimum of 3 years before it can be transferred to another location. Bigger tubers with 3 to 5 eyes may bloom the second year subsequent to planting-those with fewer than three eyes can take 3 to 5 years to bloom.  They may also not be able to bloom if the tubers are set too deeply within the soil. They should be fixed in the soil so that the eyes don’t go an inch beyond the surface of the soil. Peonies need to get lots of sun (without shade) for a minimum of 6 hours per day to develop properly. Keep peonies as far away from trees and shrubs as possible, since these other plants can suck up a considerable amount of nutrients and water, which the peonies need as well. The soil needs to be well-drained and loamy with a pH anywhere from 6.5 to 7.0. Fertilize peonies yearly, if possible based on soil test outcomes. The fertilizer should have a low to fair amounts of nitrogen.