5-8-08 peonies.jpgSometimes we're surprised at how much our mood can be affected by just a little change in scenery. Our living room is shades of light neutrals and some espresso, and yeah, it can feel kind of blah sometimes. These peonies have completely changed that, though.

Peonies generally require a cold winter frost to freeze the roots, which makes growing in San Francisco iffy, but some tree peonies (as opposed to the herbaceous variety) can do well here. We'd love to hear if anyone has any experience trying to grow peonies in the Bay area and any tips they might have, as we'd love to have these around more often. One last note - since this picture was taken, the flowers have changed from the fuchsia color shown to a soft blush. Lovely.