The year the peonies bloomed in June instead of May

Whenever I see peonies for sale I have to buy them.

This May, sixteen years ago, a woman tended her garden as she always had. Among the many flowers she cultivated, the peonies were her favorite. But that spring sixteen years ago she didn’t see a single one of her prized peonies bloom in their beds.

She picked each and every peony when it was just a blossom. She wrapped them in paper, put them in pitchers full of water, and stored them in her refrigerator while they were still curled up in a budded ball. There the peonies waited for weeks.

In June of the same year, just a few days before my wedding, she pulled dozens and dozens of unopened peony blossoms out of the fridge. She kept them in water, but put them in sunlight to let them come into full bloom. She packed them carefully in her car and drove them from Minnesota to Wisconsin.

Each and every one of those fragrant peonies went to use. Caleb’s Granny and three of her daughters prepared the bridesmaid’s bouquets and altar arrangements for our wedding. The arrangements were beautiful, of course, but the knowledge that Granny had gone to such great lengths to provide the peonies for our special day made it all the more meaningful.

You can’t grow peonies in Southern California because the summer heat would scorch them. That’s probably why it’s rather uncommon to find them for sale around here. But Granny always said to keep something pretty next to your kitchen sink to soften it up and make it a little brighter and more cheerful, so whenever I see peonies for sale I buy them, put them by my kitchen sink, and as their fragrance envelops me, I think of that May sixteen years ago when the peonies bloomed in June instead of May. And I think of the special woman who loved her garden, her peonies, and sharing them with others.

May Roller

Scent is a powerful way to help your nerve cells release endorphins. When a smell travels through your nose into the brain, it can trigger the release of feel-good endorphins and serotonin, which naturally boosts your mood. It’s one of the reasons the scent of flowers can bring back so many memories!

I love this particular recipe because it is calming and grounding, striking the perfect balance between sweet and earthy. I love to wear it for everyday because it makes me feel amazing!

Snippet from my week

Four kids earnestly feeling with all of their hearts that they are treating me like the Queen of Sheba is always my favorite part of Mother’s Day. They treated me to brunch, homemade cards, a treasured nap, and an afternoon of planting flowers together. I hope your Mother’s Day was filled to the brim with love, too!

Thanks for reading! What’s your favorite flower and why? I would love to hear about it! Just hit reply if you’d like to respond. (When you hit reply, your message goes directly to my email. It’s a private conversation between just us.) I read all your messages and try to respond, but not always in a timely manner. Sorry! And if you enjoyed this email, you’d be doing me a favor by forwarding it to someone else who might like it.