Sarah is beautiful all the time, from bud to bloom, in any light.
I don’t know how she does it. I guess that’s why she is famous.
She seems delicate, but powerful.
Her bud is like a glass marble, her bloom like a floating taffeta tutu.
Whoever named this peony named her well, Sarah Bernhardt.
FLOW
I am a sucker for those heavy, double blooms. I love them despite their neediness.
They are the over-achiever flowers. They need extra care because they go for broke blooming.
Rain wreaks havoc on them. Their poor little heads bow down with the water weight.
They need staking and shaking.
Who can resist such extravagance?
I will shake and stake every spring because these doubles are irresistible.
FLOW
I love all my peonies, but some are more demanding than others.
This one, Krinkled White, asks nothing from me.
I have two. One gets morning sun the other evening sun.
They have both burst into bloom. No feeding, watering or staking.
The buds blush as they open.
The krinkled petals bounce in the breeze.
I feel pure love for this perfect peony.
FLOW
Peony season ends with Sarah, Sarah Bernhardt that is.
Her buds appear as large marbles on the ends of long stems.
The blooms open as delicate pink which makes me think of ballerinas.
The blooms are heavy and must be supported in case of a shower.
Sarah’s performance in the garden is last,
ending peony season with a flourish of pink.
A good actress always ends with a flourish!
Flow
It’s peony(Paeonia) time here in North Carolina.
I love all types. Â Singles, semi-doubles and doubles.
The doubles are trouble though.
They have such heavy blooms that they have to be staked. Â Otherwise they dip down to the ground, especially after a rain.
I keep a supply of green stakes with open-ringed tops for this purpose.
Peonies like full sun and well-drained acidic soil. Â They do not like to be divided.
If you must, divide them in  the fall.  Plant shallow.  Side dress with compost.
FLOWER
floweralley 