I can’t believe summer is already here and family photo sessions are in full swing! It has been wild year of weather here in Maine with lots of rain and hot days, but it all worked out perfect for this family photoshoot in Falmouth. Not gonna lie we wanted a little more peonies in the pics but 1 bush in bloom did just the trick.
We had a wonderful night walking around talking about parent hood and different milestone with two kids. These two little girls are simply so sweet and little charmers. I had such a wonderful time with this beautiful family, thank you for allowing me to capture some precious family photos.
Love & Joy
Siobhan

One of my goals for our home is to have lots of peonies. It is crazy how at the beginning of spring the bush is so tiny and come late June it is giant and beautiful. Crazy fact… some of these bushes can live up to a 100 years old! Here are some tips from one of my favorite sites The Farmers Almanac 

When to Plant Peonies

• Plant peonies in the fall: in late September and October in most of the country, and even later in the South. (If you must move an established plant, this is the time.)
• Peonies should be settled into place before the first hard frost. Spring-planted peonies just don’t do as well, experts agree; they generally lag about a year behind those planted in the fall.

How to Plant Peonies

• Grow peonies in deep, fertile, humus-rich, moist soil that drains well. Soil pH should be neutral.
• The soil will benefit from the addition of organic material in the planting hole. If the soil is heavy or very sandy, enrich it with compost. Incorporate about 1 cup of bonemeal into the soil. Tamp soil firmly. Learn more about soil amendments and preparing soil for planting.
• Peonies are not fussy, but choose your location wisely, as they resent disturbance. Provide shelter from strong winds. Plant away from trees or shrubs as peonies don’t like to compete for food and moisture. Space them three to four feet apart for good air circulation.
• Peonies like full sun, and though they can manage with half a day, they bloom best in a sunny spot.
• Peonies are usually sold as bare-root tubers with three to five eyes, divisions of a three- or four-year-old plant.
• Dig a generous-sized hole, about two feet deep and two feet across in well-drained soil in a sunny spot. If the soil is heavy or very sandy, enrich it with compost. Incorporate about one cup of bonemeal into the soil. Tamp it firmly.
• Set the root so the eyes face upward on top of the firmed soil, placing the root just 2 inches below the soil surface. (In southern states, choose early-blooming varieties, plant them about an inch deep, and provide some shade.)
• Don’t plant too deep! In most of the country, the peony’s eyes (buds) should be no deeper than 1-½ to 2 inches below the soil line.
• Then, backfill the hole, taking care that the soil doesn’t settle and bury the root deeper than 2 inches.
• Water thoroughly.