Question: This time of spring my peonies are in full bloom. The problem is that I can’t bring them indoors because they are covered with ants. Why is that? Are ants essential for Peony blooms?

Answer: The answer to your question comes from the National Gardening Association Web site:

Contrary to popular belief, ants are not essential to making peonies bloom, but they are companions of peonies because they feed on the nectar produced by the blossoms. If ants are a problem, you can bait to kill them, but they’re generally happy in the garden and probably won’t invade your house. If you plan to cut the blossoms, hold each one under water for a minute or so to dislodge any hitchhiking ants before you take the flowers indoors.

Linda Niemi

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