The Peonies Are Here!

An annual reminder of what it means to bloom.

If you’ve spent time in Santa Barbara, you might know sunny skies are not guaranteed at this time of year; May Gray gives way to June Gloom. After all the rain earlier in the year (not complaining!), along with our subtle seasons, it’s been easy to forget where we are on the calendar. Even with cloudy skies, a recent trip to Trader Joe’s (and my allergies) reminded me that spring is in full bloom.

As I pushed my cart past the mixed bouquets and toward the grapes, a radiant display of pink caught my eye. Bundles of white, Barbie and bubblegum pinks, and creamy blushes were topped with a sign that announced:

The Peonies Are Here!

I promise you, my heart fluttered a little. I couldn’t help smiling! Like sumo oranges and fuyu persimmons that arrive once a year, peonies have a glorious, fleeting season. If I forgot everything else on my list, these flowers were reason enough for a trip to the store. 

At home, I arranged a hot pink bunch in a vase. Quiet and reserved at first, peonies remind me of lollipops or drum mallets with their spherical, sealed blossoms sitting atop long stems.

Don’t let them fool you.

Peonies put on a spectacular show, revealing their true selves in a display dazzling enough to rival the mind-blowing feats of any Cirque du Soleil contortionist. A peony in full bloom is several inches across, multiple layers of full, ruffly petals opening to a riot of yellow stamens. It’s a process, but by the time these beauties are finished, they bare all. I think this is what I love most about them, their petals stretched to full capacity, hiding nothing, unapologetically themselves.

Occasionally, there might be one that never fully opens, or unfurls a little slower than the rest, and it makes me wonder what it means to bloom. Among several definitions offered by Merriam-Webster, my favorites are “to mature into achievement of one’s potential,” and to “shine out.”

Wouldn’t it be amazing to “shine out” all the time?

Humans aren’t peonies, I know.

But each time I note an idea for a plot or character, draft a short story, craft an essay, or sit down to post something here on Substack, I feel like I’m unfurling. I can definitely relate to those buds that need a little more time, but the work is happening and the process itself feels like a gift. End results are wonderful, whether they’re a magnificent bouquet of peonies or a published work—but I think the real beauty may lie in the work it takes to bloom.

What makes you shine out?

If you’re looking for a little inspiration, an everyday miracle, or even a dose of magic in your day, a bunch of peonies may do the trick. Or just enjoy this video.

Either way, I bet they make you smile.

Thanks for being here.