Peony Season in Paris

It's peony season in Paris. Every florist has a 3-foot pile of peonies sitting on their counter. The first time I saw one I was regretting not bringing a camera until I walked by two more flower shops and saw the same thing. Peonies are my favorite flower so I'm pretty much in heaven. Here are some pictures from the farmer's market we went to this weekend. One big difference between France and the States is everyone buys flowers here. There are as many flower shops as there are bakeries. The French are really good at doing things to enjoy everyday life.








74 comments:

  1. we have peonies in our front garden, I had no idea what they were until they bloomed and they are soooo pretty! I need to take some photos of them now :)

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  2. My sister just landed in Paris this morning! I wish she could bring me some. They don't grow in Florida.
    Stunning!
    Thank you!

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  3. You've just made me want to go to Paris even more than I did before. Didn't even think that was possible!

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  4. So gorgeous...I have a giant peach peony on my dressing table right now, and it makes me so happy to look at it. What IS it about that flower?!

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  5. I adore your Paris photos and these might be my favorite so far. I love peonies!

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  6. I adore your Paris photos and these might be my favorite so far. I love peonies!

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  7. My favorites! I've never seen them piled so high-- how luxurious!

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  8. love love love. Your photos are gorgeous! I just caged in the peonies in my garden yesterday and now I can't wait for them to bloom!

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  9. Gorgeous!


    I just bought 6 peonie plants to add to my front yard. My husband thinks I'm crazy.


    He's probably right.

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  10. I never realized how beautiful peonies are until the gal in our office used them in an arrangement here in my office. They're gorgeous!!

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  11. so pretty. peonies are my favorite, too!

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  12. Your life in Paris looks amazing. And the peonies are lovely. I just called my local florist to make sure they were in stock so I could pick up a bunch!
    xo!

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  13. amazing- i'm from the states too but live in south africa and find that flowers are sooooo much cheaper here as well! so our house is always full of flowers- it's the best!

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  14. Gorgeous! I am anxiously awaiting their arrival here...

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  15. Floral heaven indeed!

    Peonies are my absolute favorite... I'm counting down the days until my local grocer starts carrying them again!

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  16. I think it is a "European" trait...we lived in Germany and they are the same with flowers and bakeries! sooooo good!

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  17. They are beautiful!
    Peonies are my favorite too and I was just as thrilled to see them by the hundreds at the flower stands in Biarritz during Easter weekend (http://instagr.am/p/DiF3N/). My favorite are the very light pink ones.
    In Toulouse and in Biarritz I noticed the price changed according to color. The fuscia one being the priciest. Is it like that in Paris?
    Bises,
    D

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  18. piles and piles, they're wonderful! i'm going in july and will be checking your blog for tips, can't wait.

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  19. Wow, all the flowers are gorgeous! :)

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  20. Oh, what a dream, Jordan! Peonies are my favorite flower and I'll be using them in my wedding in just 12 days--your photos got me so giddy!

    Hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day!

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  21. Anonymous6:25 PM

    so pretty! but - wait - 7 euro a stem or 7 euro a bunch? I cant' see paying over $10 a stem! and I can't see NOT buying them if they were 7 euro a bunch

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  22. I knew you'd do a peony post this year! We definitely love our peonies:)

    Our house has a lovely garden full of peonies on the side. Last fall, my father-in law came to help clean up the garden and basically took a weed wacker to EVERYTHING while I was inside.

    I came out to find my garden free of weeds and leaves but also everything else.

    I was really doubtful I'd get anything this year but yesterday I was shocked to find all the peonies back just the way they were last year! They must be quite a flourishing flower!

    Looks like our dining and beside tables will be as happy as I am.

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  23. OH MY! i have wanted to plant these for years. They look even more beautiful in GIANT piles

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  25. Oh my goodness - that looks like heaven! I have never seen so many peonies in my life. I just got my first set of peonies for the season - light pink and so beautiful sitting on my coffee table.

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  26. They were 7 euros a bunch! We snagged 2 of the hot pink ones.

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  27. I can't wait to go to Paris in July now--although I don't think it'll be peony season then. :)

    I love that second picture (the one you put on twitter) so much that I am going to pin it. Happy Monday!

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  28. Oh my favorites too. Sigh. Love.

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  29. so amazing! what a lovely outing!

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  30. i love that last sentence "The French are really good at doing things to enjoy everyday life." :)

    I want to visit so badly!

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  31. I remember that was the first thing I noticed when I went to France. I worked in a florist all of high school, and it was so rare that people bought flowers, "just because".

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  32. Love, love, love peonies! Thanks for sharing the beautiful pics!

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  33. alexandra7:57 PM

    Bonsoir!

    which market is it? which métro station?
    merci
    à bientôt!

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  34. I just bought peonies, and they made my little studio apartment smell amazing! Yes, the French know how to live - table wine, fresh flowers, and divine pastries. How wonderful that you get to live there!

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  35. Leave it to the French to find beauty in the most mundane things. These peonies are LOVE!

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  36. Anonymous10:24 PM

    ohmygosh..i could lay on a bed of peonies..my favorite-est flowers ever

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  37. I must move to paris if only for this!I live in MN and Peonie season begans late june/august :)

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  38. AUGH! LOVE LOVE LOVE!

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  39. Well, I am French and I know from experience that the vast majority of the French do not buy flowers for themselves. It is extremely common to bring flowers to your host when you go have dinner at someone's though. That's why there are so many flower shops everywhere.

    And I love your pictures! :-)

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  40. Anonymous12:25 AM

    how lovely! In NYC Peonies are going at a price of 3 blooms for 10 dollars! Crazy n'est-ce pas?

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  41. Peonies are my favorite too. And at 7 euro for what looks to be a nice sized bouquet, even better!

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  42. Whenever my mom comes to visit in the spring from Virginia, she brings a big bouquet of peonies on the plane. So sweet.

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  43. PS, I have to confess that I am alternating between being so thrilled for you guys and withering from envy! Just so you know, the soundtrack I always hear when I read your posts is Carla Bruni. I imagine that it plays in the background as you stroll flower markets and have picnics.

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  44. oh gosh, these images are too lovely for words.

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  45. I really love the 'enjoy everyday life' comment ~ I have been working hard at that in my mid-life. It is not always easy, but it is SO important.

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  46. Anonymous3:39 AM

    Peonies seem like "grandma flowers" to me -- and yet I love them. :)

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  47. Absolutely gorgeous! Peonies are my favorite!

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  48. Gorgeous peonies - such soft delicate petals. If you have a moment, take a look of these photographs I posted a while back.

    http://hibiscusbloem.blogspot.com/2010/06/perfect-peonies.html

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  49. These pictures are heavenly. I love that you're living every moment to the fullest in Paris!

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  50. We won't have peonies here for a little while still. Enjoy!!

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  51. Oh my goodness, look at all those bundles of peonies! i think I'm in love!!!

    - Sarah
    http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com

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  52. Wow, how stunning. I am in favor of enjoying everyday life a bit more :)

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  53. Thanks for the quiet shout out to flower growers/greenhouse people in the world. We have a greenhouse and we grow plants to enhance people's lives. You are so right, people in Europe in general have no qualms with purchasing plants ad flowers just because. It's a trend we are hoping to increase here in the North American Market. Great pictures. Loved following your life in France. All the very best.

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  54. Peonies are my fav and these images prove once again how much I love them. Wonderful photos, thank you!

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  55. THESE Peonies are show stoppers! Absolutely beautiful.

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  56. Anonymous2:17 AM

    Your post made me smile. Peonies were my grandmother's flower and today would have been her 95th birthday.

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  58. Oh, I love peonies! I'm trying to get into the habit of buying flowers on a weekly basis.

    Christine

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  59. Anonymous10:25 AM

    Peony are my favourit flowers especially the pink one :) Each year after the peony season starts I have a tradition to place big bunch of them in my home.

    Greetings rent holiday apartment london

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  60. Anonymous1:18 PM

    Flowers drive your emotions straight to the hearts of your loved acquaintances. Its colors project the liveliness of the sweet relations, its fragrances make you recall the great time you spent together. Flowers are, in short, a miniature of your inner traits that you always wished to let your loved ones know. Visit www.flowerschennaitoday.com for more information.

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  61. Peonies, along with ranunculi and anemones, are my favorite blooms! I would have such a tough time controlling my purse strings in these market stalls!

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  62. Perfection in Paris. So aching to go back...

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  63. Anonymous2:08 PM

    So beautiful! These are lovely photos. It looks like a dream

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  64. I live in a little apartment in Bakersfield,CA and have been looking for some sort of flowers to grow inside with a nice fragrance but I'm not to good or sure about it yet, any suggestions?

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  65. Anonymous5:26 PM

    This is so beautiful! I am jealous! I've only been to Paris once, I still miss it!

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  66. Peony flowers are truly special! Extremely popular for weddings and bridal bouquets!

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