Peonies. My absolute-all-time-without-a-doubt-favorite-in-the-whole-wide-world flower is growing (in Michigan) at my parents house, my sisters house, the neighbors house and no one is cutting them and putting in vases. “WHY??” I asked. Because they’re full of ants… what? I couldn’t just leave a bumper crop of gorgeous pink beauty sitting out on a shrub in the backyard, so we cut a few, put them in a mason jar, it was BEAUTY! Until… the darn ants. Not one, not two, but LOTS of ants… I tried setting the vase in a bowl of water, my thought was that it would make a mote and the ants would croak (I just know the PETA people are going to get me one day, but bugs and I simply cannot coexist. No. Possible. Way. Period.). We plucked ants off the blooms until we couldn’t take it anymore and took them back outside. So what’s the deal? Can YOU bring peonies inside YOUR house? If so what’s your secret? Why the darn ants? I wonder if you cut the blossom before it bloomed if that would work, or are the ants already fast at work? I know the peonies that I’ve gotten from Harris Teeter (grocery store) have been gorgeous and ant free :) we may not be able to grow peonies here, but we can have them in a vase, hee.
Hey! Want to mention one more thing… H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y M A X ! ! Our godson Max is 14 today! Whoa, time flies! Hey, Max… do you remember this photo (ha… taken in 2000) with “Uncle Fred” on the front porch? Good times! You were a cutie then, you’re a cutie now and we love you more than anything, even if you are taller than me now! Have a great birthday! xoxo us
Catch you back here tomorrow!
ARTFOODHOME.COM 
Truly vibrant colour.
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Lovely – I’m a big fan of the peonies too! Of only they weren’t so expensive here, I’d have a bunch in my house as often as I could!
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Peonies are gorgeous, believe it or not I bought them at the grocery store, 3 stems for $4! Bargain :)
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My favorites, too! I cut them, turn them upside down, give them a gentle shake and then put them in a bucket of water where I put them in head first for about 3-5 minutes. Then, another gentle shake and you’ll see what’s floating in the water. I don’t do this when they are ready to fade away, the gentlest shake can harm them (flowers, not ants!) Then I bring them in. When they have lost their petals, I sometimes save them in a bowl and take a whiff occasionally. Their fragrance really lasts.
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GREAT information! Appreciate you passing it along! They do have the most wonderful scent don’t they’d. Thanks for commenting Deb!
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Have you tried cutting the peonies before the buds open? You might have fewer ants.
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That was my thought after I got back to Charleston… it’s too warm for peonies here… have passed it on to those in MI to try that next year! Wish I would have thought of it while we were there! Thanks for commenting Laurie!
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