Peony Inspiration

The peonies are in full bloom this week and heavy rain is predicted for tonight. I thought the petals might be damaged with the rain, so I brought some of the peonies into the house to enjoy. I read about the meaning of the Peony:

The Peony flower is among the longest-used flowers in ornamental culture. It originated in China 4,000 years ago and often the subject of Chinese painting. It is a traditional floral symbol of China, where it is called (mu-dan). In 1903, the Qing Dynasty declared the peony as the national flower.



Is it any wonder that peonies have inspired so many designs over the years?



Or that we are amazed each season at the beauty of the peonies when they bloom?



Imagine the fashion designers seeing these peonies.



I can only imagine the dancing images within in the mind of a fabric designer, as they walk through a garden of peonies.



People walk through gardens and stare at these wonderfully made flowers and never tire of their beauty.



Photographers capture the drama of the peony even in black and white.



Oh, I wonder did this inspiration lead to organza?



Were the great POP artists inspired to create peony inspiration?



Oh, the artists...



The dreamers...



The Designers...



The song writers...



I love to photograph the peonies.



It used to be such a puzzle to me when I saw those big black ants crawling all over the peony bud. Until my art teacher explained that the ants help the peony to bloom.






Were Stage performances inspired by peonies too?



I wonder how many poets wrote sonnets to honor the peony or gave their beau a bouquet.





I wonder how many songs have been inspired by the peony.



And when the inspiration for design begins to stir the creative muse...



There's no telling...


Where it might lead to!



I found this wonderful Chinese music, called Peony River, and placed the pitcher of peonies close by. When the creative muse was ready, I saw the image I wanted to create. I had printed some prints of my ballerina a few weeks back and took them to die cut into fancy-edged squares to glue to chip board in the same shape. So, I took a print of my Ballet dancer and added a skirt, which I cut out from one of my peony photographs.



Then I added some ribbon, and a large silk peony and ta dah.

Peony Inspiration

How beautiful the peony from bud to full bloom,
Unlike the rose which can proudly hold it's head steady boasting it's strength and beauty,
The weight of the peony’s blossom seems too much for it’s delicate stem to bear.


The peony leans instead, on the family of flowers which surround it,
each blossom cascades gently upon the other,
creating a bouquet of flowers,
a celebration of blessings,
an embrace for one another.

The song for this post is You're Beautiful by Kenny G.