Vibrant orange peonies with yellow highlights and green leaves. I love these showy ornamental plants, with their compound leaves and large, often fragrant flowers blooming in late Spring and early Summer. The peony is named after Paeon, a student of medicine and healing. In Greek mythology, Paeon’s teacher, a Greek god, became jealous of him. Zeus turned Paeon into the peony flower to save him from the wrath of his teacher. Peonies are often found in ukiyo-e woodblock prints in Japan.. At home we have a vase full of silk flower peonies in orange, red and yellow hues; they inspired me to paint this piece.
