Peony Watch

While the ants that typically cover peony buds may look alarmingly like an army of invaders, they are, in fact, the opposite. The peonies have invited them in, by secreting sweet nectar at bud stage for the express purpose of attracting ants. 

Once effectively lured, the ants act as tiny protectors, eating other insects that would otherwise harm the buds before they get the chance to bloom.

The best way to make sure ants don’t catch a ride into your house on a peony is to harvest at the “marshmallow stage.” When buds are swollen, soft  and squishy to the touch — the texture of a marshmallow — cut the stem. At this stage, ants are easy to brush off if they haven’t skedaddled already. 

Place the stem in clean, cool water and the flowers will open within a couple of days. 

Be careful to leave one to three pairs of leaves on the part of the stem that remains on the plant. This will ensure the plant has energy to make many more flowers in the coming seasons, which will inevitably attract a new team of fierce defenders in the form of little crawling ants.

— Janna Siller