Okay, real talk----what is it about peonies?
Like, why do we collectively lose our minds over them every May and June? Why do we see one peony bouquet on Instagram and suddenly feel the urgent need to romanticize our lives, clean our entire apartment, and pretend we’re in a Nancy Meyers movie?
Let’s break it down. Because peony season is short, sweet, and a little dramatic, kind of like that summer you dated the barista with the guitar.
🌸 They’re Basically the Beyoncé of Blooms
Let’s just call it like it is: peonies are iconic. They show up, they steal the show, and they know it. No one’s ever said “wow, that bouquet’s too full of peonies.” They’re fluffy, layered, a little extra, but somehow still tasteful? They’re giving red carpet but also brunch with your mom.
They’re the it-girl flower. No notes.
📸 They Photograph Like a Dream
Peonies have what I like to call main character lighting. Even on your crummiest phone camera, they look expensive. They’re the kind of flower that makes a “just because” bouquet look like it belongs in Vogue.
Ever wonder why every influencer suddenly becomes a florist between May and June? Yeah. Peonies.
Bonus: They open dramatically over a few days. So it’s like a slow-motion flower striptease. What’s not to love?
🎀 They Feel Like a Luxury (But They’re Not Always Pricey)
Peonies have major luxury energy. Like, old-money-meets-modern-romance. But when they’re in season and locally grown? You can get your hands on them without needing to sell a kidney. And you feel rich when you have them in your house. It’s giving “French girl who wakes up with fresh croissants and excellent boundaries.”
🕯️ The Vibe Is Pure Romance
Not to be dramatic, but peonies are the flower equivalent of falling in love on a wine-drenched patio at golden hour. They’re soft. They’re swoony. They don’t try too hard--and yet somehow they’re the most memorable part of any bouquet.
This is why they’re the #1 pick for weddings, anniversaries, and “omg I’m obsessed with you but I’m playing it cool” moments.
⏳ They’re Elusive...and That’s the Magic
Peonies are like that friend who only pops into town for a few weeks a year but brings all the energy. Their season is short (usually late spring to early summer), and then boom...gone. No long goodbyes. No lingering. It’s part of the allure.
We crave what we can’t have all year round, right? Peonies are Mother Nature’s reminder to slow down, swoon a little, and appreciate the beauty of the moment before it fades.
So... Are Peonies Overrated?
Honestly? Never.
They’ve earned their hype. They’re a floral fever dream. And if loving peonies makes us basic, then consider me a certified flower girl cliché. I’ll be over here, arranging my coral charms with a matcha in one hand and my phone in the other, waiting for that perfect lighting to hit.
xo,
A girl who sets calendar reminders for peony season