Have a look before they disappear... until next year
These Peonies can be admired at the Experimental Farm in Ottawa. But hurry up, the temperatures climb up to 30 degrees Celsius and they might not bloom longer than another week. I took these images a day after a heavy rainfall, but they were still beautiful.
Peonies are amazing, very long-living flowers/bushes: The peony is among the longest-used flowers in ornamental culture and is one of the smallest living creature national Emblems in China. Along with the plum blossom, it is a traditional floral symbol of China.
According to Wikipedia they are named after Paean, 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.
Once planted the Peony likes to be left alone and punishes those who try to move it by not flowering again for several years. Once established, however, it produces splendid blooms each year for decades. The blossom heads are very heavy and need some support to avoid weeping down.
Their marvelous fragrance and bountiful flowers make them a must-have perennial. Peonies are drought tolerant, low maintenance and deer-resistant. See more images and tips at the Canadian Peony Society Page.
