I adore the voluptuous, scented blossoms of peonies (Paeonia lactiflora) and wish their all-too-short blooming season would last longer. Today, I deadheaded the terminal buds that have gone by and now have the smaller secondary buds to enjoy. It is supposed to be warm the next few days, so I might have only a week left.
This week’s arrangement has double white and bubblegum pink blooms, a semi-double in shell-pink and a rich, magenta-pink single.
I’ve also added a few oxeye daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare) and contrasting stems of speedwell – the exquisite cobalt of Veronica ‘Crater Lake Blue.’ This is my absolute favorite speedwell!
Thanks to Cathy at Rambling In the Garden, who hosts a weekly meme to showcase what is blooming in our gardens. Wander over to see what gardeners all over the world are arranging this week.
Eliza Waters 
Great shots,and beautiful flowers !
Thank you!
Absolutely gorgeous , Eliza! I envy you your flowers………they don’t grow in my part of the world.
Thank you, Maureen. Sad to hear about your lack of peonies. It is lamentable, to be sure. My sister lived in FL for years and she missed peonies and lilacs – our two spring olfactory delights!
Lovely arrangement Eliza, the Veronica really adds to the overall beauty of the peonies.
Thank you kindly, Christina. 🙂
They are gorgeous Eliza! You have such a pretty mixture of colours – the rich magenta is wonderful.. And the Veronica is such a deep blue – lovely!
Thank you, Cathy – those colors are electric – I love ’em!
The white and pink peonies look like ladies dressed up for a ball. Wonderful as always.
A good analogy – thanks so much! 🙂
Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie and commented:
wonderful way to start the week!
Thank you for the reblog!
simply gorgeous peonies!
Thank you, Ann!
I love them too. Thanks for sharing this very pretty, cottage garden style arrangement.
Thank you, Susan.
Glorious peonies! The veronica and the blue background are perfect to show off the deep pink blooms. Do you know the name of the single magenta flower with that lovely boss of stamens?
Thank you, Cathy. I’m sorry I don’t know the name, it was from a friend’s garden. (Inadvertently in keeping with Cathy’s theme this week. 😉 )
Stunning! I found the ‘Crater Lake Blue’ veronica in many gardens in England and Wales on my recent trip. It certainly stands out from the crowd!
Thank you, Marian. The color of CLB is electric – it definitely catches the eye!
Voluptuous really says it! Gorgeous.
Thank you, Catherine – such a gorgeous plant. I wait all year for them to bloom!
Peonies are definitely show stoppers and your additions make showcasing them extra special.
Thank you so much, Dor. 🙂
The extroverts of the flower world. So very lovely!
Ha, yes they are! Thanks, Laurie. 🙂
Sweet.
Thank you, Brenda, they certainly are! 🙂
Oh my, this is a truly gorgeous combination of over-the-top voluptuous peonies and simple sweet daisies, and handsome blue spires of Speedwell. ‘Crater Lake Blue’ is my favorite veronica too. It’s nice that you brought a few peonies inside to enjoy during this last few days of their bloom time this year.
Thank you, Peter. When I pass a vase of them, I nearly always lean in for a sniff – such heaven!
I love peonies and so many are popping up all over….without much rain they are lasting nicely so I am sure I will pick some next week!
They are one of my favorite plants. Let’s hope they last. 🙂
Mm. Nice. Superb arrangement. 😀
Thank you!
So so nice!Peonies and that cobalt blue Veronica look so well together!
Thank you, Anca!
They are such beautiful flowers, Eliza.Voluptuous, indeed, and your arrangement is pretty.
Thank you so much, Cynthia!
You are welcome!
Eliza, your peonies are lovely and this is a great way to enjoy them. Crater Lake Blue is a wonderful color that works well in your vase.
Thank you!
Glorious photos and flowers. I always look forward to your “vase” series!
Thank you kindly, Belinda!
Fabulously voluptuous, almost makes me want to move north. Almost. Peonies are really something special and I did grow Veronica, just not that one-lovely!
Thank you! There are advantages and disadvantages to northern/southern living. Come winter, I’m thinking along the lines of southern living! 😉
Really beautiful vibrant colours – a wonderful image and peonies are my favourite flowers.
Thank you, Hannah. Peonies have a lot of fans!
Very nice color! I’ve seen an uptick in the number of bridal bouquets with peonies in them this year. Lots of white on white. 🙂
Thank you, Heather. It’s a great addition to a bridal bouquet, a bit heavy, I’d think, unless it is wired – but so worth it for the scent alone!
Such luxurious bouquets – I admire your White Balance setting on your camera that gives these tinted photos. This V. ‘crater lake blue’ has become my nest ‘must have’
Thank you, Joanna. CLB is an excellent performer – I’ve had divisions of the original for over twenty years and it is still going strong. You’ll love it, I’m sure.
Beautiful vase Eliza 🙂
Thank you, Ann!
Looks stunning. The peonies and the Veronica are the stars.
Thank you! They are definitely the stars of the show.
Such a beautiful combination of colors! Well done:-)
Thank you, Stephanie. 🙂 Have you been making any arrangements so far this year?
You know my love of peonies, but that speedwell is an incredible color! It is a beautiful contrast for the peonies.
Thank you, Sarah! 🙂
picture perfect..
Thank you!
Your eye is unfailing. Goodness what a lush bouquet and that speedwell, what a gorgeous contrast.
Thank you so much, Lisa!
Hi Eliza, What a lovely combination of colors in your vase. Pure peony perfection!
Thank you, Julie. Peonies are the highlight of June for me. 🙂
Gorgeous…yet again:)
Thank you, Gigi!
Oh, Eliza, more gorgeous peonies! The addition of the blue Veronica was a nice touch – it makes the arrangement jazzy rather than sugary.
Thank you, Kris!
Yes, as Kris says the blue really changes the emphasis – an inspired addition to the pretty peonies. Thanks for sharing
Thank you, Cathy.
How gorgeous! I do love peonies.
Thank you, Fi. A great plant to have!
Ohhhhhhh how gorgeous, Eliza!!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Peonies and I like you wish they would last longer. Their sweet intoxicating smell along with my Lilacs makes that area of my gardens like Perfume Ally. I just today completely cut all flower stalks off my Peony bushes and now they are just green. I miss those flowers all ready, darn it!!! ❤
We wait all year, and then in a flash, they are gone! ❤
I know. Man do I know!! This is why I spend as much time with my flowers as I can, Eliza. Summer passes by just to quickly!
Smart strategy, Amy!
Once again I wish there was smell-o-rama! Such a bursting beautiful arrangement Eliza. I’ll be peony shopping this fall!
Oh, good. Every yard needs peonies!
Wow, Eliza, they are mind-blowing!
I’m glad you liked them. Thanks, Maria!
They really pop Eliza!!
Thanks, Val. ❤
Oh Eliza, it’s been too long since I visited, but tonight I had the pleasure of strolling through your lovely images. We’re in a heat wave going on two weeks now, and viewing your beautiful arrangements and heavenly property was like stepping into a woodland retreat. Thank you.
So nice to have you visit, Sharon. Glad to have given you a bit of a respite. Do come again! 🙂
I don’t know how I missed this one. It’s a stunning arrangement. Everything seems perfectly places in terms of shape and color to be the most pleasing to the eye. I bet those peonies smell heavenly too. 🙂
Thank you, Robin. The peonies are rapidly passing, so I am sniffing them up as much as I can!
Words fail. This is probably the most beautiful arrangement ever.
Wow, thanks so much, Debra!
The colors are absolutely perfect together. I especially like the little blue flowers.
Thank you, Micheal. And how quickly they pass! Gone now, but more coming to take their place. 🙂
Such an abundance of color…🌹
Thank you, Stormie. 🙂
Tis is absolutely wonderful, Eliza! ❤ We love Paeonias and can’t wait for them to bloom in the garden. At the moment it’s quite chilly in North Norfolk and it’s raining cats and dogs, but we are quite optimistic the flowers will open soon. Have a wonderful weekend!
Greetings from the Fab Four
Thank you – I’m looking forward to their return as well. Hope the sun shines soon for you. Thanks for your visit!