May is peony season, and this is one of my favorite flowers

It's once again the annual peony season.

The May flower goddess, the peony, has a "short" blooming period of only two months, which is simply not enough to enjoy fully~~

Last time I wrote about the comparison between the king of flowers, the tree peony, and the prime minister of flowers, the herbaceous peony. Actually, compared with the opulent and noble tree peony, I personally prefer the herbaceous peony, as lovely as a spring breeze

Its fragrance is captivating without being overpowering, and its beauty is refined, understated, peaceful, and true to itself!

Single-petaled ones, double-petaled ones

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Pink ones, white ones, purple ones, red ones...

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Domestically grown ones, imported ones

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Someone once asked me: "Is the herbaceous peony really a medicine?"

"Is the herbaceous peony really a medicine?" The answer is yes, the herbaceous peony is indeed an important traditional Chinese medicinal herb.

Legend says the herbaceous peony is no ordinary flower. In a certain year, when a plague struck the mortal world, the Jade Maiden stole the Queen Mother of the West's immortal elixir and scattered it over the human realm to save people. As a result, some turned into the woody tree peony, and others into the herbaceous peony, and to this day the herbaceous peony still carries the character "medicine" in its name.

The root of the herbaceous peony is crisp and juicy and can be used medicinally. The root contains paeoniflorin and benzoic acid, and its uses vary by species. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that the white peony root in Chinese medicine mainly refers to the root of the herbaceous peony, which has antispasmodic, analgesic, and menstruation-promoting effects. It is effective for conditions such as abdominal pain in women, stomach cramps, dizziness, gout, and diuresis.

In May, when herbaceous peonies bloom, many people have already placed orders online for herbaceous peonies,

What you idealize is the picture below: open the lid, and there's a full box of herbaceous peony flowers~

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Those who hold this expectation often end up disappointed, because at first the herbaceous peony looks like a bud, like a lollipop, but please don't disdain it. This is simply its nature. Take good care of it and give it a little time to bloom. Girls change a lot as they grow up, and it will soon go from ugly duckling to white swan. Once in full bloom, the herbaceous peony instantly becomes a beauty that could overthrow a kingdom, the king of flowers, so beautiful you can hardly stand it!

The full bloom period of the herbaceous peony generally lasts only three days, and on the fourth day it begins to decline and wither. To extend the blooming period, sellers generally pick unopened herbaceous peony buds to sell.

When the first bud blooms before your eyes,

That wonderful and thrilling feeling is truly fantastic,

But the problem is that the "beauty" herbaceous peony is very hard to care for,

And if you're not careful, it may die before the bud even opens.

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To help it bloom smoothly and stay beautiful for a day or two longer, some care tips are essential.

• Once you get the fresh flowers, trimming the branches and leaves is common knowledge for people who often buy flowers. Remove the rotten and broken leaves at the bottom of the herbaceous peony; no leaves should remain below the water line. Just keep the leaves at the top of the stems. Cut the bottom of the stems at a 45 degree angle to increase the water-absorbing area.

• The vase must be cleaned thoroughly before use, preferably disinfected with 84 disinfectant, and the water should be changed and the vase cleaned every day.

• Do not let the water level be lower than 2/3 of the vase. For herbaceous peonies that have been transported, it is normal for the flower heads to wilt; just keep them in deep water for half a day and they will recover their beauty.

• When buying flowers, it is recommended to buy a packet of preservative and mix it with water at a ratio of 1:500. This can effectively provide nutrients to the fresh flowers, reduce bacterial growth, and extend the viewing time of the herbaceous peony.

• In addition, never spray water on the petals of the herbaceous peony! Some people see the petals wilting and want to add some water, but like roses, once the petals of the herbaceous peony get wet, they are more likely to suffer bacterial rot.

• When displaying them, keep them away from fruit. Some fruits release ethylene, which speeds up flowering and shortens the blooming period. Do not place them in direct sunlight or near air conditioning vents either.

The blooming period is short, which makes the herbaceous peony all the more precious. Care for it attentively, arrange it well, and cherish the beauty that blooms in less than a week.

The herbaceous peony does not need to be paired with other flowers. The simplest and least pretentious way to arrange it is to just put it in a vase, and it already looks beautiful. The only thing that requires some thought is controlling the number of flowers according to the different types and sizes of the containers.

For a small vase with a small mouth, just put one flower in one vase,

White flowers, green leaves, a small brown bottle,

The color combination is not dull either.

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When the stems have been trimmed too short, you can slant them into the mouth of a drinking cup.

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All kinds of beverage bottles and wine bottles can be used as flower containers.

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You can also play with arrangements and combinations, setting up a herbaceous peony corner at home.

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Two stems, one tall and one short, leaning against each other.

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For a larger vase, put in a few more stems, and as long as the overall bouquet shape is full, it will look great.

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Pink, purple, white, when herbaceous peonies of all colors are mixed together, there is no room left for other flowers to matter.

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Among all herbaceous peonies, the white one is the most beautiful. A simple bunch of white flowers with green leaves, placed there, has an elegant and unworldly posture.

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Besides arranging them in whole bunches, sometimes when passing by a flower shop after work, you can buy one or two stems to take home. Single-petaled or double-petaled, placed among other flowers, one or two stems are enough to stand out.

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During the peak season when herbaceous peonies are abundantly available, it is also totally worth splurging on a big bunch, filling a large transparent vase, and just looking at it is deeply satisfying!

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A DIY guide for arranging herbaceous peonies in a vase

The herbaceous peony, with its brief blooming period each year, seems all the more precious. Cherish this fleeting "once-in-a-lifetime encounter" while it lasts.