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June 9, 2011 · 1 Comment

Do You Say, Pee-O-Nay?

Plants

peony flower in bloom

How do you pronounce peony?

I have always pronounced peony as Pee-a-nee. So I’m surprised at how many gardeners I know who say, Pee-O-Nay (accent on the nay) when they pronounce peony. And, even though my Iowa husband often accuses me of speaking with what he calls “the Roseville O” (for non-Minnesotans, it’s a long O that you’ve probably heard Garrison Keillor use when he is in full-Lake Wobegon mode), I cannot stretch out the O on peony without feeling odd.

So, do you say pee-O-nay? And, are your whatever-you-call-thems blooming now?

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Comments

  1. LJ says

    June 20, 2011 at 11:38 am

    Oh, definitely pee-a-nee over in Michigan. Mine are finishing up, but even the dried heads shriveled in the vase are a vibrant purple pom-pom.

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