Ode to the Peony - Die Pfingstrose

This morning the green fists of the peonies are getting ready

to break my heart 

as the sun rises,

as the sun strokes them with his old, buttery fingers

and they open - pools of lace - white and pink

and all day the black ants climb over them,

boring their deep and mysterious holes into the curls,

craving the sweet sap, taking it away

to their dark, underground cities -

and all day under the shifty wind,

as in a dance to the great wedding,

the flowers bend their bright bodies,

and tip their fragrance to the air, and rise,

their red stems holding all that dampness 

and recklessness gladly and lightly,

and there it is again - beauty the brave, the exemplary, blazing open.

Do you love this world?

Do you cherish your humble and silky life?

Do you adore the green grass, with its terror beneath?

Do you also hurry, half-dressed and barefoot, into the garden,

and softly,

and exclaiming of their dearness,

fill your arms with the white and pink flowers,

with their honeyed heaviness,

their lush trembling, 

their eagerness

to be wild and perfect for a moment, before they are nothing, forever?

by Mary Oliver

Portrait of peony by Chinese artist Yun Shouping, 17th century

The history of peonies as symbols of beauty and remembrance spans more than 2000 years

The Greeks had - of course - a myth about them,

and named them after Paeon, a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing.

Asclepius became jealous of his pupil;

Zeus saved Paeon from the wrath of Asclepius by turning him into the peony flower.

Paeonia lactiflora 'Marie Crousse' (1)

Tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa) and herbaceous peony (Paeonia lactiflora),

both are the most beautiful and charming flowers and have prestigious reign in the flower world.

Tree peony - La Pouyette

The Tree Peony is known as "the King of Flower" for being elegant

and its national beauty and heavenly fragrance,

and is regarded as the symbol flower in China.

 Tree Peony at La Pouyette

Tree peony 'Duchesse de Morny'  (2)

one of the oldest tree peonies in Europe

The herbaceous peony (lactiflora) is called the "Queen of flowers"

Paeonia lactiflora 'Moonstone'  (3)

The tree peony has been the favourit flower from the imperial down to the common 

for more than 1500 years in Chinese history; whereas the cultivation history

of the herbaceous peony can go back to 2500 years ago.

It was not however until the seventh century, during the reign

of the Emperor Yang (605-617) of the Sui dynasty,

that peonies were thought to have been grown as ornamental plants.

During the T'ang dynasty that followed (618-906) peonies supposedly became 

very popular in the imperial gardens and they were put under imperial protection.

The best varieties commanded huge prices and peonies were often part of a dowry settlement.

Then during the Sung dynasty (960-1279), which began at the end of the tenth century,

peonies had spread throughout China and the Sung capital of Louyang

became a centre for peony culture.

In this gold-engraved lacquer ware food tray from the Sung Dynasty,

the two long-tailed birds represent longevity 

and the peony seen at the top center represents prosperity

Paeonia suffruticosa 'Colette Thurillet'  (4)

Chinese horticulturists were the first peony breeders and their work lead to the

introduction of many huge, double flowered tree and herbaceous peonies.

It is believed that during the 12th century, Chinese horticulturist began

using grafting techniques to reproduce valued cultivars.

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"Peonies in a French Garden" - La Pouyette

see also post from Trish... here

Japanese 'Honor', a single flowered herbaceous peony - La Pouyette

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'Festiva Maxima Miellez 1853'  -  La Pouyette

"Peonies in a Californian Garden"

Trish - Trouvais

'In Waiting'......here

'While it's Raining'... here

and...  here

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Both the tree peonies and herbaceous peonies were introduced into Japan 

at the beginning of the 8th century, Japanese horticulturists began to work with them,

 simplified the flowers and produced lighter, less complicated flower heads.

The Japanese also began incorporating images of the peony into their paintings,

porcelains, tapestries and fabrics. The peony was also the subject of many poems

and frequently figured in Japanese literature.

 Japanese traditional 'fukuro' sash belt - OBI, early 1930's

found....www.japonic.com

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"Peonies in an American Garden"

Ann - plumsiena

here   'In Lavender and Pink' post May 27,2011

 and.... here

Peony 'Coral charm'

Paonia lactiflora ' Vivid Rose'  (5)

The peony is the national flower of China 

and is often referred to in poetry and literature.

Peony, by Chinese artist Wang Qian, Yuan Dynasty (1271-1386)

As one of the main motifs of Chinese decorative arts the peonies can be found

on porcelains, in woodblock and screen paintings as well as embroidered onto tapestries and clothing.

It became important to have it prominently displayed on emperors silk.

Now in modern times in European fabrics like...

De-Gourney-Chinoiserie's  "Askew" - Colefax & Fowler

Silk "Chelsea" - also from Colefax & Fowler

and

 silk from the mid 1980's  -  from my vintage fabric collection

again with the long-tailed bird representing longevity

The beauty of the peony flower has long inspired artists

in both the eastern and western parts of the world.

here on a 19th century English MINTON coffee cup and saucer

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"Peonies in a Belgium Garden"

Jerôme - Ma Maison de Lin

'Enfin - les Pivoines souvrent dans mon jardin.....'

see.... here

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Since the early middle ages the Peaonia officinalis found its home

in mainly South-German monastery and farmers garden,

therefore called "Bauernrose" (farmers rose). 

It became a "must" in every traditional farmer garden.

Peaonia officinalis 'Rubra Plena'  -  at La Pouyette

Because of  (under 'normal' weather condition)  its flowering season around Whitsun,

the common name for the peony in German is "Pfingstrose" (Whitsun rose).

Paeonia mascula  - "Corallen-Bauernrose"

appreciated since the classical antiquity as a medicinal plant.

in a German farmers garden - 'Auguste Dessert' and 'Sarah Bernhardt'  (Country 2010)

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Peonies in a "hortus conclusus" - enclosed garden

Das Paradiesgaertlein  (Little Garden of Paradise)

by an Upper Rhenish Master, 1410-20

The denomination Upper Rhenish Master refers to an unknown artist active ca. 1410-20,

possibly in Strasbourg.  This most famous painting of the artist is now 

in the Staedel Museum in Frankfurt and is the Staedel's most famous example of the old German school.

(a shrub of peonies can be clearly seen at the bottom-center of the painting)

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"A Happy Partnership in a German Farmers Garden"

Paeonia 'Festiva Maxima' and 'Auguste Dessert'

together with Allium 'Globemaster' and 'Geranium magnificum' (Storchschnabel)

(Garten & Wohnen 2005)

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A few 'cool' colors:

Paeonia rockii

Japanese Paeonia lactiflora 'Jan van Leeuwen'

at the Chelsea Flower Show  (German Country 2010)

"A Peony with an Ant"

"A Peony with a Bee" 

 and "Beatles heaven" at La Pouyette

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"Immortal all-year-round Peonies"

 in silk

perfect for all kind of decorative 'displays' .....with leaves, 'real' flowers, and...and

"small"

and "grand"...

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Why do we all love the peonies?

Apart from their beauty, 

it could be their short flowering season which makes them so precious.

We are exited each year while awaiting their full magnificence in our gardens!

Oh - the Peonies, the Peonies....

 images 1,2,3,4,5 from this book

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This became a very long 'Ode' indeed!

but - it all began with the peonies...   here

encore merci Trish!

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Best wishes for a lovely Whitsun weekend to all of you

Frohe Pfingsten!

By the way....

The peony is probably the only flower to have a country named after it:

Paeonia, in Greece, conquered during the Persian Wars.

and

 the peony is the state flower of Indiana, US

 Indiana has had a long, tumultuous history regarding state flowers,

beginning with the adoption of the carnation by Concurrent Resolution in 1913....

In 1957, the Indiana General Assembly took up the issue of an official state flower again.

Read more.....Indiana State Flower