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Respected Contributor
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Registered: ‎07-18-2015

@Lilysmom wrote:

@Flatbush , aren’t they lovely?  My father was quite a gardener and he had them all over the backyard.  Many years later, they live on at my brother’s cottage.  Isn’t that nice?

 

I heard that ants were necessary to open the flowers but I am not sure if that is just an old wives’s tale,

 

There is a new plant called a fern peonies.  They are simply gorgeous and on my list.  LM

 

 

5732F1DB-9E5B-4203-8AD2-B77DDF27399D.jpeg

 


They are beautiful. How nice that your brother was able to grow them in his own Garden> I bet seeing them brings some lovely memories of your Dad.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,210
Registered: ‎03-23-2010

My neighbors have some beautiful peonies.  I love them too.  I've see them grown successfully in South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, so you may be able to grow some @Flatbush.  

Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,139
Registered: ‎04-16-2010

I have a huge peony bush on the side of my house which I ignore. And yet, it's magnificent. The flowers are ALWAYS covered in ants. I mean...covered. This is one of the reasons I ignore it and because it's out of sight due to it's location. I've spoken with enough gardeners/landscapers and other than buying a frame so it can stand up taller, the ants are part of having one. There is some symbiotic relationship they have so don't spray it/don't do anything.

 

So I just leave it alone.

Trusted Contributor
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Registered: ‎11-24-2011

@Lilysmom  Those Fern Peonies are so cool, I'm going to check them out, thanks.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 17,654
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: PEONIES, I love them...

[ Edited ]

Two things: ants aren’t needed to pollinate or help open the buds. That is an old wives’ tale. They are attracted to the exuded nectar. 

 

Those fernleaf peonies are more of a rock garden- woodland garden geared peony.

 

This website sells them & they ship in the fall. You can request a catalog by mail too. 

http://www.songsparrow.com/catalog/plantlist.cfm?type=ROCK,&startrow=1&subtype=all

 

I love this peony which is a cross between a tree peony & a herbaceous peony. Leave at least 4’ of space for it in full sun.

 

Image may contain: plant, flower, nature and outdoor

 

 

 

 

☼The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. GBShaw☼
Honored Contributor
Posts: 10,620
Registered: ‎09-22-2010

@JustJazzmom 

 

Thanks.  I appreciate an expert opinion to support my nonexpert opinion about those ants!

Honored Contributor
Posts: 15,521
Registered: ‎09-01-2010

I have pink ones and white ones; got them from my mom and MIL over 20 years ago.   They were beautiful this year.   Always covered in ants, so I never cut bouquets for inside the house.   

Honored Contributor
Posts: 10,620
Registered: ‎09-22-2010

@RedTop 

 

I have a friend whose peonies also have ants.  She picks them and leaves them on the patio in a bucket of water overnight.  She says the ants drown.  

Honored Contributor
Posts: 17,654
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

If you cut them & leave them on a table, the ants crawl off.

☼The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. GBShaw☼