Shipping Peonies
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The scent from these homegrown peonies is delightful! (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)
Shipping Peonies
I love the peony season. Besides it having wild columbines, iris, lilacs and roses starting to bloom, the scent of peonies makes every room seem special.
Over the years, I have collected a number of peony bushes either rescued from other sites or gifts from gardening friends. The red peony was from a bush my neighbors tossed to the side of my road. I didn’t know what color it was but I did recognize it as a peony.
Since my family, book designers and cat friends are flower lovers, I decided to ship them peonies from my garden.
Peonies, iris, lilacs and roses growing on the south side of my hillside garden. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)
How to Pick Peonies for Shipping
The key, according to a florist friend, is to pick the peony buds when they are marshmallow-soft. Too hard and the buds will dry up. Too open and flower petals will fall off before they arrive.
I also cut them early morning before warm weather encouraged them to open.
I shook them in the garden to leave the ants there.
The key to shipping peonies is to know when to cut the peony buds. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)
Once I had the flower buds, I cut them at an angle and slipped them into water picks, small water vials with an airtight flexible top. The water will keep the peony buds hydrated on their journey.
Ship each stem in water picks to keep the flowers hydrated. (Charlotte Ekker Wiggins photo)
To make sure there were no mishaps, I placed the water picks in a plastic bag; folded and stapled the bag corners.
Using those air shipping pillows, I put them in the bottom and sides of the shipping box, then slipped in the peony buds.
I did send one friend blue iris but she confirmed they didn’t make it.
Great way to share your garden and brighten someone’s day!
