Sniffing ants and other signs of spring...

As I mentioned in Wednesday's post, I love peonies. I think they are perhaps the most perfect flower (I will say this a lot, and about many different flowers...just wanted to warn you). Peonies are crazy colorful, have an amazing scent, and last well in just a bell jar full of water (they're thirsty, so make sure to refill regularly). But, the turn-off most people have about peonies is that they are what some consider "ant plants." Ants and peonies have a long and sordid history. The truth is, ants eat the small amounts of nectar that the buds put off, but most importantly, peonies do not attract ants, they are just a sweet treat for the ones already there. So, do not spray insecticides! Insecticides are evil. Yep, evil. Ants are good for your garden, therefore...let them eat peony. Once the bud blooms, the ants will disappear...(give the bloom a good shake, and dunk it in cold water for 30 seconds just to be sure). Trust me, I took a big inhale of a vase of peonies near my computer on Monday, and ended up sniffing an ant that just about brained me. Don't forget the shake and dunk.

If you, like me, love having peonies in the house, here are a couple tips to make them happy, and most importantly, make them last. Make sure to perform the shake and dunk technique mentioned above, (grasp the peony as close to the bloom as possible and give it a couple good shakes), then dunk in cold water for 20-30 seconds to make sure the ants have moved out. Now, be sure to replenish the water daily, and as with any fresh flower, snip a little off the stems every couple days. Make sure 2/3 of the stem is submerged and your peonies will last up to a week. Another tip: when your peony bushes are showing color but haven't fully bloomed yet, cut off 10-12 buds, rinse them, wrap them in tissue paper and put them in your fridge. They will last about 3 weeks, and you'll be able to periodically pull them out for fresh blooms. When you take the buds out, put them in room temp water, they will bloom in a day or two and last for about 5 days. Now you get to enjoy indoor peonies longer.

You're welcome, peony lovers.