Pink Peony Flower

Peony Flower

Gorgeous Pink Peony Art Print

Taken in the Chinese Gardens at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California (neighboring Pasadena).

I always thought this beautiful plant was native only to Asia, but according to Wikipedia it is also native to Southern Europe and Western North America. This was taken on March 21st of 2015, but when I was at the Huntington last month (January 2016), I saw this same plant flowering if I recall correctly.

According to Wikipedia's listing for the peony: "The peony is named after Paeon (also spelled Paean), a student of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. Asclepius became jealous of his pupil; Zeus saved Paeon from the wrath of Asclepius by turning him into the peony flower."

You can see what's blooming at the Huntington any month of the year by visiting the "What's blooming at the Huntington" page, although I note they don't have the peony listed anywhere!