The Bloom That Bought the House

A few minutes with your morning cup · Workshop details inside

There is no other flower quite like the peony. Big, unabashedly lush, and briefly — beautifully — fleeting. They have been a definite favourite of mine for as long as I can remember, and right now I have over seven varieties growing here in my garden. Each one has a story. Each one has earned its place.

“That peony plant in the garden called my soul — and fifteen years later, here we are.”

When we first moved to this property, there was a Coral Charm already growing in the garden. Honestly? It was one of the reasons this house felt like the one — even though the size and layout weren’t exactly what I’d imagined for us. Something about that coral bloom stopped me in my tracks. I’ve never been able to fully explain it. We bought the house. We stayed. And that peony, now fifteen years on, is still here and still stunning every single June.

Another variety I’ve grown to treasure deeply is Krinkled White — a white peony with an open, golden-yellow centre that looks almost exactly like a poppy face. When it first appeared in the garden, it wasn’t love at first sight. There was something a little raw about it compared to the voluptuous full blooms I tend to gravitate toward. But it has grown on me in a way few plants have. It is now one of my most cherished in the entire garden — and it, too, was here waiting for us when we arrived.

I also have an Itoh peony — one of those extraordinary intersectional varieties that takes a few years to really get settled in and show you what it’s capable of. Mine was just beautifully establishing after three years of patient waiting, when I accidentally knocked off the main stem while cultivating last spring. It didn’t come back. That one still stings a little. If you’ve ever grown an Itoh peony, you’ll understand exactly why — they are in a class of their own for beauty and architectural presence. I’ll be trying again.

A little peony wisdom

When to harvest: Cut your peonies when the bud feels like a soft marshmallow — pliable, yielding, and just about to pop. That’s your window.

Getting them to open: The waxy coating on the outside of peony buds can slow things down. To encourage blooming, rinse or briefly dip the buds in warm-to-hot water — this dissolves the wax and lets the flower open naturally and fully.

About the ants: Ants are NOT required for peonies to open. They’re simply drawn to the sweet, sugary wax that forms on the buds. A quick rinse before bringing blooms inside will sort them out nicely.

This season I am so thrilled to be collaborating with a wonderful local flower farm — Perennial Petals — on something I’ve been wanting to put together for a long time. If peonies are calling to you this year, I’d love for you to join us.

Workshop & Peony Social

Perennial Petals Farm
Thursday, June 18th · 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Come out to the farm, walk the rows, and pick your own blooms straight from the field. We’ll spend the afternoon learning how to build beautiful peony arrangements using mixed fillers, foliage, and accent flowers — so you leave with both a gorgeous bouquet and the skills to recreate it all season long. We’ll also cover harvest timing, how to condition your peonies for the longest vase life, and how to dry them so you can hold onto that magic just a little longer.

This is meant to be a relaxed, joyful afternoon — equal parts hands-on learning and simply being in a beautiful space surrounded by one of nature’s most generous flowers. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or someone who just bought their first peony on a whim, you are so welcome here.

Spots are limited — if this is calling to you, book yourself in and come create with us on June 18th. I cannot wait.

See you in full bloom

xo Dar