Woody Peony

Small ants are a common sight on these budding flowerheads, attracted to the sweet excretions produced by the perennial before blooming. The ants don’t cause any harm to the fragrant, captivating plant. Some believe that without the ants, the beautiful blossoms would fail to open. Do these tiny worker insects unintentionally unlock the plump buds by simply trying to satisfying their sweettooth? For the ants, these ornamental shrubs represent abundance, harmony, and mirth, which are probably the same characteristics that make them so appealing to gardeners, too.

Words and images by Michael J. Hall