PEONIES bring impact and drama to any garden. They explode between late May and July, giving borders that ‘wow’ factor. Once established, they flourish for decades, with their many large, flamboyant blooms in a magical range of colours, frequently with a beautiful scent and/or finely cut foliage. Now is a good time to plant potted or bare-root peonies, so let’s examine some of the facts and lore surrounding these beautiful plants.
■ The peony gets its name from Paeon (also known as Apollo), the Greek physician of the gods. The god of medicine, Asclepius, was jealous of Paeon, and wanted to do away with him. Fortunately, Zeus (the god king) stepped in
