Who knew cryogenics works on peonies?
Peonies bloom in such abundance, but their time is all too brief in the garden. If you cut stems bearing buds at “golf ball” or “marshmallow” stage, wrap them in newspaper and refrigerate; they’ll keep for at least a month. When needed, just bring them out, give them a fresh cut and arrange in vases. The buds will start opening up right away and there will be peonies in bloom within when none exist without! I go a step further: when I bring the buds in, I dip the cut ends in warm wax before refrigeration. This seals in the moisture and protects the flowers from the possible dehydrating effects of refrigeration. A crucial point to remember is that the buds must be dry (sans rain or dew) when harvested. Tulips, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, continue to “grow” in water and move towards the direction of light. I personally like the look, but if you don’t, trim them to your desired height and wrap in newspaper so the bouquet is in a cone while the stems are still in water. Store the vase of n
