Peonies in Astana

Peonies in Astana — a short season worth catching

Peonies are loved for their fullness and a scent that never turns cloying. Their season is brief, which is why every bouquet feels like an event. After years in floristry I've noticed peonies are chosen by people who want a "wow" without excess luxury.

A single open bud becomes a large globe, so even a small bouquet looks rich. Counting stems is pointless here — what matters is the volume the open flowers give.

When to buy peonies

The main season is late spring and early summer. In flower delivery across Astana peonies come in waves: early varieties first, then late ones. In winter they're shipped from other countries, and the price is noticeably higher.

Check the bud by touch: it should feel like a marshmallow — slightly yielding but not loose. A rock-hard bud risks never opening; an overripe one will drop its petals.

Types of peonies

• Herbaceous — the classic, full heads and a strong scent.
• Tree peonies — large flowers on a stiff stem.
• Itoh hybrids — the middle ground, longer-lasting when cut.

"A peony opens with warmth. Need to speed it up — warm water; need to hold it for the date — keep it cool," from a florist's practice.

How to extend the bloom

Cut the stems at a slant, keep leaves out of the water and change it daily. If the peonies arrive as tight buds, that's good: in warmth they'll open in a day or two and show their full form.

Order peonies in Astana early in the season, while the choice of varieties is widest. Early buds are firmer and travel better.

Peonies stay with us only briefly each year — that's their value. Catch the season, and the bouquet will be remembered.