Happy June!

We love June because Peony season is here! Peonies are a beloved bloom for many and are popular with gardeners, flower lovers and of course with brides-to-be!

As a traditional symbol of love, happiness and a joyful marriage, with a sweet rosy and citrusy scent, and a variety of colours and hues, it's no wonder peonies are a popular choice for weddings. Peonies are typically in season from late April to mid July which is perfect for spring/summer weddings.

For us at Flowers by Janie, the most popular types of peony requested for weddings include the Sarah Bernhardt (pink), Bowl of Cream (white), and Coral Charm (salmon pink/orange). Etched Salmon is also a lovely pink/coral colour great for summer weddings.

At Flowers by Janie we source about 60% of our peonies locally from British Columbia to support local and because Canadian peonies are gorgeous! We also supplement orders with Dutch peonies which are often less expensive and offer more colour and variety options! 

If you are planning an April or July wedding there is a chance that you'll be able to have peonies included among your wedding flowers. Typically there are less colours to choose from at the very beginning and end of the season (April and July) and they can be more expensive because of the high demand and scarcity. If you really really love this bloom and they are a must have; make sure to plan your Calgary or Rocky Mountain wedding with us in mid May or June! 

Scroll through the blog post to see some of our favourite peony bridal bouquets and venue decorations such as centerpieces and arches designed for Calgary weddings in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

The peony is named after Paeon, a Greek God of medicine and healing who is believed to have used the healing properties of the flower to treat a wounded zeus. Peonies originated in China since 1000BC (around 4000 years ago) but are grown all around the world due to their popularity. The Chinese word for Peony is "Sho Yu" meaning "most beautiful" which we believe certainly describes the flower. There's even a city in China, Luoyang, known as the City of Peonies. They have a garden with over 100 varieties of peonies blooming, and they hold an annual festival to celebrate the beauty of peonies with folk performances and floral displays! 

Peonies are generally known to symbolize prosperity, good luck, love and honour, making them a perfect choice for weddings. Fun fact, peonies typically arrive to us from the grower in tight, marshmallow ball-sized buds. When put under the sunlight, warm indoors, or soaked in warm tap water, they quickly open up to 3 times their size to reveal their puffy loose beautiful petals. They're also considered the flower for 12 year wedding anniversaries!

If you love peonies as much as we do and are interested in growing them in your garden, here are some helpful tips to ensure they bloom beautifully and last a long time! Checkout this website for full details.

Fun fact: The peony is considered a legacy perennial and can produce flowers for decades with little-to-no assistance from fertilizer. The oldest peony plant is over 100 years old!

Care Tips For Fresh Cut Peonies:

• Remove the peonies from their packaging.
• Remove leaves that may sit below the waterline in your vase (they can breed bacteria).
• Diagonally cut 2-3cm (~1 inch) off the stems with a clean floral knife of floral clippers.
• Put them in a vase with clean water and plant food.
• Change the water regularly so no bacteria harm the peonies.

We had so much fun hosting our annual Peonies + Pie Workshop at the end of May! Take a look at all the gorgeous arrangements that were designed with peonies and other beautiful flowers below. 

Attendees designed with peony varieties Etched Salmon, Lemon Chiffon, Cytheria, Gardenia, Jacorma, Kansas, and of course the most popular Sarah Bernhart. Attendees got to pair the peonies with beautiful tulips, ranunculus, viburnum, and spray roses. What a beautiful combination of flowers!