It's finally peony season — these are the best online florists to buy them from
In case you missed the big news — it's finally peony season. Lusciously full and layered, these show-stopping ruffled blooms are typically associated with love and romance, and come in charming shades of blush, coral, fuschia, and white.
Often found in old English gardens, peony plants ooze cottagecore charm — and once established, they're hardy enough to thrive for decades, which only adds to their vintage and elegant feel.
But if you want to enjoy as many bouquets of peonies as possible this year, you'll need to act quickly — as the UK season typically comes to an end around the start of July. So, that makes June a pretty precious month for lovers of those pretty powderpuff petals.
If you'd like to get your hands on a beautiful bunch of these magical blooms, head to your local florist, farmer's market, or supermarket. Or – if you'd prefer to have them delivered straight to your door — these are the online delivery services to turn to for a dreamy selection of perfect peonies by post.
Famous for their flower subscription services, Freddie's Flowers offer three different bouquet sizes, and keep sustainability at their core. Best of all, their peony offering is truly sensational this year — with reds, whites, and plenty of pink varieties making appearances in their current selection of seasonal bouquets. They're all stunning, but Peony Passion is our personal favourite. BUY FREDDIE'S FLOWERS PEONIES FROM £27.50
For beautiful letterbox blooms that don't break the bank, Bloom & Wild is one of our favourite delivery services. This year, there are twenty different peony arrangements to choose from — ranging from letterbox bunches and small posies, to style-at-home flowers and hand-tied bouquets. The Theo fits nicely through the letterbox, and boasts coral coloured peonies, pastel pink spray carnations, lilac stocks, and vibrant yellow solidago. BUY BLOOM & WILD PEONIES FROM £22
Not only are most Prestige Flowers bouquets available in three different sizes, they can also be sent with lovely extras like personalised message cards and free recorded messages — which is ideal if you're sending your bouquet as a gift. Simple yet effective, Peony Blush is the perfect arrangement for anyone looking for just a basic bunch of bright pink British-grown blooms. BUY PRESTIGE FLOWERS PEONIES FROM £26.99
For statement single-variety bunches of your favourite seasonal blooms, look no further than FLOWERBX. As well as being sustainably grown and cut-to-order, each stunning stem is of the absolute highest quality — all you'll need to do is plonk them in your favourite vase or jug. This year's peony collection includes nine different gorgeous varieties — but for an elegant yet understated display, you can't go wrong with ten stems of Cotton Cloud Peonies. BUY FLOWERBX PEONIES FROM £45
The UK's most ethical flower company, Arena Flowers plants two trees for every bouquet they deliver, and also only source their flowers from ethical suppliers or Fairtrade-certified farms. In terms of peonies, there are currently seven different arrangements available— with Silk Crush certainly reigning supreme if you like a vibrant mix of colours. BUY ARENA FLOWERS PEONIES FROM £28
As well as their stunning selection of luxurious hand-tied gift bouquets, Bloom delivers freshly cut market flowers — freshly cut on the farm. You select the number of stems, and they'll wrap them in brown paper, and deliver them straight to your doorstep. There are currently four different peony varieties to pick from — including these delicate dusky pink Sarah Bernhardt Pink Peonies. BUY BLOOM PEONIES FROM £45
Famous for their opulent and creative approach to floral artistry, Wild at Heart is one of the most celebrated British luxury florists. Every beautifully curated bouquet in their dazzling Peony Collection comes in four different sizes, and can be bought in 'Wilder' or 'Serene' styles. Bursting with vibrant pastel hues, Deliciously Pleasing boasts an eclectic mix of peonies, roses, sweet peas, nigellas, scabious, viburnum, and jasmine. BUY WILD AT HEART PEONIES FROM £85
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However, former civil servant, Janice Carter, 60, who moved to Alicante from London, got the surprise of her life when she walked into a decaying home. 'The house needed more work than we realised,' she says. 'The sellers gave us the impression they were living there, but they weren't. 'It was damp and the plaster just fell off the walls.' Janice had been sold by the beautiful, pristine swimming pool in the seller's listing. 'But the swimming pool was thick green algae and unusable,' she says. 'They'd sent us an old photo saying: 'You'll be swimming here this time next week'. 'We'd also purchased some items of furniture from them to see us through until our belongings arrived, but when we got there, nothing was left – only their cat.' 6 Irene Milsome, 70, left Milton Keynes for Alicante's sunshine - but her dream home, above, took three stressful years to secure Credit: Supplied When renovating in Spain, everything moves in slow motion. 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It's often a difficult and lengthy process to obtain permissions for builds and extensions. For example, I have a strict exterior colour palette to choose from of bold pinks, yellows and oranges, in-keeping with the historic village, and my perimeter fence can't be higher than 1.2 metres and must include an element of transparency. We'd also purchased furniture from them to see us through until our belongings arrived, but when we got there, nothing was left — only their cat. Janice Carter, 60 Finally, don't skip insulation. As Brits, we tend to think of Spain as having year-round warmth, but temperatures can drop below freezing in winter, even in the south. Spanish houses are built to stay cool, so in winter I could see my breath in the air as I snuggled on the sofa, under multiple layers and cuddling the dog for extra warmth – with a bucket collecting dripping rainwater next to me. Now, double glazing, efficient heating and insulation is top of my priority list. While life under the Spanish sun brings undeniable joy, from long lunches to laid-back living, anyone considering moving should be aware that this slower pace seeps into other areas – including property purchases and renovations. Learning to let go, slow down and trust the process (and the tradesmen) has become part of the adventure. Building in Spain may test your patience, and punish your bank balance, but the payoff is well worth it.
