Peony Season: Why I Keep Growing These Dreamy Blooms
At the end of April into May, something magical happens in our garden.
The peonies begin to bloom.
Almost overnight, the garden is full of these big, beautiful, fluffy blooms.
We’ve grown peonies for years and already have over 100, and this fall, we’ll be planting about 200 more. They’ll be tucked just outside our flower garden in newly designed beds. They won’t be in rows like you see on a flower farm. Instead, they extend the feeling of the garden—organic, thoughtful, and connected to the space we’ve been slowly shaping over time.
Why I Keep Choosing Peonies
People often ask me why I love peonies so much—especially since they only bloom once a year. It might seem strange to invest in something that only shows up for a few weeks in the spring.
But honestly, there are a few really good reasons.
For one, our summers here are hot and humid. Peonies bloom when the weather is still mild, and once they’re done, they don’t need much from me. They come back year after year, living a very long life—what I think of as a generational plant. Once they’re settled in, they’ll thrive for decades with very little care.
I also don’t stake most of mine. Aside from a few young ones getting established or the occasional stem that needs a little support, they hold their own. And in a garden where there’s always something to tend to, that’s a gift.
From Dahlias to Peonies: Our Garden Shift
For a long time, we grew flowers in abundance from seed—hundreds of them. That meant constant nurturing, especially through our intense southern summers. Dahlias were a big part of that. They’re undeniably beautiful and have a long bloom season, but they also require a lot. Even though I leave my dahlia tubers in the ground over winter, they still need to be dug up and divided. Critters love to snack on them, and it’s a gamble every year. I still grow dahlias—I always will—but not nearly as many.
Over the past few years, we’ve shifted. From growing hundreds of dahlias to hundreds of peonies. It didn’t happen overnight, but it came from experience. From seeing what works best in our garden and in our life. Peonies are low-maintenance, reliable, and come back stronger each spring. They ask so little, and yet they bloom so beautifully.
I also don’t mind that their bloom time is short. I’ve actually come to love that about them.
By growing an abundance of just one type of flower, I don’t feel like I’m rushing from one bloom to the next. Even in a garden as full as ours, peonies have become the grounding flower—steady, dependable, and quietly spectacular.
Photographing Peonies
I also love photographing the fluffy blooms. Whether styled in vintage urns or gathered in a loose handful, peonies always look stunning and smell so good.
Heading Into Summer
I can’t believe it’s almost June!
Our beautiful peony season has ended and we’re stepping into the thick of our southern summer. It takes everything in me to keep up with the garden during these hot days ahead—but I know there’s still so much beauty to come. The garden shifts and new blooms take their turn.
But I’ll be carrying peony season with me for a while especially with our fall plans.
kindly, xo
Jane
P.S. If you’re a flower lover (or just love slowing down to take it all in), I have a few garden-inspired journals available in the shop—perfect for jotting down what’s blooming, what’s changing, or just how it all makes you feel. You can find them here🌸
