Recent Posts

travel

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.








  1. Kim Lowe

    May 9, 2011

    Beautiful!

  2. Rhianne

    May 9, 2011

    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 🙂

  3. KarenSue

    May 9, 2011

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

  4. Erin {pughs' news}

    May 9, 2011

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

  5. CAMILLE STYLES

    May 9, 2011

    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?!

  6. Amy

    May 9, 2011

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

  7. Amy

    May 9, 2011

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

  8. Roxanna

    May 9, 2011

    My favorites! I've never seen them piled so high– how luxurious!

  9. Katie @ Haute Apple Pie

    May 9, 2011

    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!

  10. Katie

    May 9, 2011

    Gorgeous!

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

    He's probably right.

  11. jodi

    May 9, 2011

    heaven!

  12. Cheryl Wilson - O'Pry

    May 9, 2011

    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!!

  13. wishful nals

    May 9, 2011

    so pretty. peonies are my favorite, too!

  14. London Lisa

    May 9, 2011

    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!

  15. size too small

    May 9, 2011

    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!

  16. Susan

    May 9, 2011

    Gorgeous! I am anxiously awaiting their arrival here…

  17. iheartkiwi

    May 9, 2011

    Floral heaven indeed!

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

  18. Cathy

    May 9, 2011

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

  19. Denise Laborde

    May 9, 2011

    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

  20. Craftiness NOW

    May 9, 2011

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

  21. Holly

    May 9, 2011

    Wow, all the flowers are gorgeous! 🙂

  22. Ashley

    May 9, 2011

    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!

  23. Anonymous

    May 9, 2011

    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

  24. Kathleen Frances

    May 9, 2011

    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.

  25. Bladh photography

    May 9, 2011

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

  26. Lia {sprightly}

    May 9, 2011

    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.

  27. jordan

    May 9, 2011

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

  28. Amanda

    May 9, 2011

    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!

  29. Ali

    May 9, 2011

    Oh my favorites too. Sigh. Love.

  30. Amanda Jane

    May 9, 2011

    so amazing! what a lovely outing!

  31. Sobrina Tung

    May 9, 2011

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

    I want to visit so badly!

  32. Haute Mama

    May 9, 2011

    That is my heaven.

  33. Brenna [fabuleuxdestin]

    May 9, 2011

    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".

  34. Danielle

    May 9, 2011

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

  35. alexandra

    May 9, 2011

    Bonsoir!

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

  36. BL

    May 9, 2011

    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!

  37. claire

    May 9, 2011

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

  38. J + M

    May 9, 2011

    HEAVEN.

  39. EJR

    May 9, 2011

    gorgeous!

  40. hautetotsbos.com

    May 9, 2011

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

  41. Lane

    May 9, 2011

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

  42. alanna.

    May 9, 2011

    AUGH! LOVE LOVE LOVE!

  43. Esther

    May 9, 2011

    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! 🙂

  44. Melissa

    May 9, 2011

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

  45. Julie Karatzis

    May 9, 2011

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

  46. Kelly

    May 9, 2011

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

  47. Kelly

    May 9, 2011

    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.

  48. Elizabeth Saucier

    May 9, 2011

    oh gosh, these images are too lovely for words.

  49. a house mouse

    May 9, 2011

    oh wow, lovely!

  50. Sigrid

    May 9, 2011

    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.

Comments are Closed

More Recent Posts