Peony bud

This reminded me of my old garden. I had a guelder rose and every year it was absolutely covered with aphids. I realised that the ants were 'farming' them for their secretions. Apparently, the ants take the aphids to the plant and feed off the sweet secretions that the aphids make as they feed on your plant! Yucky but fascinating...clever things ants!

My peonies are all bought from Kelways, Langport and give fantastic blooms. Kelways told me that people often worry about the ants on the buds, but it is perfectly normal, and once the flower buds are fully open they go away. They do not harm the plants.