We had peony bushes all along the side of our garage, and once a year, in May I think, they would form buds and ants from everywhere would gather to peel the petals, bit by bit. Our parents were also big fans of Danny Kaye, who sang:
Twas the peony bush there in the garden
That made you turn around and smile at me...
I tried opening the buds by hand, but that was much too fast for the peony and it was like peeling a cabbage down to the nubbin, tightly folded to a tiny middle, nothing like the spectacular full blooms that the ants unfolded.
1 comment:
I remember peony bushes in our yard as well. They are such beautiful flowers with such a major ant problem. Maybe I shouldn't say "problem" because the peonies looked none the less beautiful. It is interesting that on the west coast the word "peonie" is pronounced with a long "o" sound. I laughed the first time I heard it as though I somehow had the right to know the real pronunciation!
Tish Shepard
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