I Thought They Were Rhubarb: The Story of My Peonies.

When we moved to York, Pennsylvania from Alabama, I inherited a yard full of mystery plants. A new yard in a new state means starting from scratch figuring out what's what and what's where.

So when I noticed these long red shoots coming up in my flower bed I did what any reasonable Southern gardener would do.

I thought they were rhubarb.

My neighbor set me straight pretty quickly. Sort of. She walked over one day while I was puzzling over them and said cheerfully — "Oh those are pee-ANN-ies!"

I looked at her. She looked at me.

"You mean pee-OWN-nees?" I said.

She blinked. "Yes! Pee-ANN-ies!"

We stared at each other for a solid second and then both started laughing. Apparently in Pennsylvania they say pee-ANN-ies. In Alabama we say pee-OWN-nees. Either way — same glorious flower. We were going to be fine. 😄

Hidden Treasure — All Over the Yard

Once I knew what I was looking at I started finding them everywhere.

Not just in the south foundation bed. There were peonies hiding on BOTH sides of my golden threadleaf cypress — a deep dramatic burgundy on one side, a soft pink on the other, both completely swallowed up by that big golden shrub.

Then in my west corner — the space I've since transformed into my hummingbird haven — another pink peony, always visible but never fully appreciated until I started gardening that bed intentionally.

And beyond what I can only describe as the most enormous gnarly overgrown evergreen shrub you've ever seen — hubby and I called it the graveyard plant — yet ANOTHER pink peony. Almost as big as the others. Hidden for who knows how many years behind that monster.

Four separate peony plantings. All established. All either hidden or overlooked when we first moved in.

I had no idea what I had.

The Lake House Moment

By mid May the buds were forming and I'd finally identified my mystery plants. We headed to my son's lake house at Indian Lake for a few days.

We came home to THIS.

I actually stopped in the driveway.

I'm not exaggerating. The entire south foundation bed had exploded into the most spectacular deep magenta-burgundy blooms I had ever seen in my own yard. Dozens of flowers. Buds still coming. That rich color against the white siding and black shutters and golden cypress — it looked like something out of a magazine.

I ran inside to get my camera

Two Colors, Four Plants, One Spectacular May

What made it even better was discovering I had not one but TWO peony colors hidden in that south bed — the deep dramatic burgundy-magenta flanking one side of the cypress, and the soft romantic pink tucked on the other side.

Both established. Both gorgeous. Both completely hidden until this spring revealed them.

I cut a bouquet of both and brought them inside. Burgundy and pink together in a glass vase on my kitchen island — honestly one of the prettiest things in my house right now. 🌸

Keeping Them Beautiful: My Mildew Prevention Plan

Peonies are susceptible to powdery mildew — that white dusty coating that shows up on leaves in humid conditions. I'm being proactive this season with a simple rotation:

Baking soda spray — 1 tablespoon baking soda + 1 teaspoon dish soap per gallon of water, sprayed on foliage on Monday mornings every two weeks

Neem oil spray — 2 tablespoons neem oil + 1 teaspoon dish soap per gallon, applied Monday evenings on alternating weeks

Ground level watering only — never wet the foliage

Starting this BEFORE any signs appear is the key. Prevention is so much easier than treatment!

Homemade Cut Flower Preservative

Want your peonies to last as long as possible in a vase? Skip the florist packet and make your own:

1 quart lukewarm water

1 tablespoon white sugar

1 tablespoon white vinegar

A few drops of lemon juice

Cut stems at a 45° angle, remove any leaves below the waterline, and change the water every two days. Your blooms will last 5-7 days easily!

Pro tip: Order a floral grid elastic for wide vessels — it holds stems in place invisibly and is so much better than the tape method I tried first! 😄

What's Coming Next

The burgundy ones are at peak bloom right now. The pink ones are just opening. And I still have buds coming — meaning fresh peonies for at least another week or two.

In October I'll be dividing and relocating some of the plants that are currently crowded behind the cypress — giving them room to really show off the way they deserve.

But for now? I'm just going to enjoy every single day of peony season.

Because here in York, Pennsylvania — whether you call them pee-OWN-nees or pee-ANN-ies — this is the best two weeks in the garden. 🌸

Are you a peony person? Drop a comment and tell me — what do YOU call them?

Regina | Bloom & Dwell