I’ve seldom had luck with peonies–probably because they didn’t get enough sun in my heavily shaded garden. But after last year’s renovation, for which we removed a couple of trees, I can now enjoy ‘Sarah Bernhardt.’

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt.’

The blooms have lasted more than a week so far.  The ones I’ve cut for the house perfume the room where they sit. Outside, I’m experimenting with discreet staking techniques. It’s not easy for the stems to hold up such heavy blooms.

Peonies tend to like a decent winter chill, more than we typically get in Zone 7b. There is an upside to the polar vortex after all!