ANTS ON YOUR PEONIES? YOU’RE NOT ALONE
The timing couldn’t have been better. Memorial Day morning our family came down for breakfast to find the scent of lilacs enveloping us. The tiny, icicle shaped buds had opened overnight, and butterflies and dragonflies were enjoying the sun drenched flowers. The peonies have just begun opening, too. And unsurprisingly, many have ants on them. But no need to worry if your peonies have ants, too.
Ants eat the nectar on peony buds, and may even help the buds open. And its not just peonies, ants are helpful in the garden in many ways. An article in Fine Gardening says that they keep herbivores away from the peonies by eating the nectar. They also spread seed including seeds of bleeding hearts and trout lilies.
But how to avoid ants at the dinner table when you bring in flowers? Cut the peonies when they are buds and just flick the ants off. They will last a teeny bit longer that way, too.
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