Apartment Therapy New York | PlantTherapy: Greenmarket Pick

PlantTherapy: Greenmarket Pick

Although at the moment you will find big bouquets of creeping phlox, sweet William, cornflowers, irises, and even roses (which are just beginning), these weeks truly belong to the peony.

Click here to view a slideshow of peonies and other bouquet choices at the Greenmarket.

Peonies are one of the oldest plants known to be cultivated for their flowers. Every spring I rediscover them and marvel at how something so tiny can contain something as awe-inspiring as the peony flower. As the green pulls back to reveal the color, the many tissue-like layers can begin to be seen. In this way, by packing a palace into a breadbox, nature reveals itslef as the ultimate organizational genius.

If you are a big fan of these fragrant beauties this is the time to be buying them in armfuls. Fresh local bouquets can be had for $10. Some will contain five good stems, others will have the five plus a little extra. Don't be fooled by smaller looking, unopened bouquets. These are the best when compared to the bouquets with more open flowers. Bring them home and wait for the fireworks. They will look sparse in the beginning, but fill out a vase within days.

matt at apartment therapy dot com

Comments (5)

I picked a June wedding date so I would be guaranteed to be able to have peonies -they are so special.

posted by bridmw on June 2nd 2007 at 7:45am
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I have a peony plant in a big pot on my veranda...it blooms every May (the most flowers it got were 5) and is a spectacle...but by late May she's just green, no flowers. Guess it happens early cause Greece is hotter than NY. It's my favourite flower.

posted by Stratos on June 2nd 2007 at 2:23pm
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The peonies are gorgeous yes, but those lillies - wow!(In the slideshow). Thank you for all the wonderful plant posts!

posted by tin_angel on June 3rd 2007 at 12:23pm
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This reminded me of the peony slideshow of mine you posted a couple of years ago (peony flower life cycle):

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/gardening/peonies-from-missouri-002863

Ours are done blooming this year (deadheaded them a week ago), but we had a great vase of them for Mother's Day!

posted by Jon_B on June 4th 2007 at 5:12am
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Jon_B

I remember that post!

Thanks for reminding us - That's exactly why peonies are so amazing, and why I don't think I'll ever get tired of them. Thanks for bringing the slideshow to the front, they really are amazing to watch.

posted by mattplantguy on June 4th 2007 at 6:23am
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