Peonies have been around since 1000 B.C., and although not commonly eaten today, they were a frequent ingredient in medieval cooking when in season using the blossoms, seeds and roots. A medieval cookbook, “Tiles Coquinaria,” contains a recipe for poultry garnished with peonies. Also in the Middle Ages, this fragrant flower was used to flavor summertime beverages, at least for those who had a peony patch.

In this 21st century these flowers known for their beauty and fragrance have a profound presence in Mathews.

Sandy Warhol, having once lived in New Jersey with peony blooms all around, bought her first shipment of 90 peonies. Today approximately ¼ acre of her property at Hallie-ford has 399 peonies blooming each spring.

When Sandy met Deana Silberhorn, RN, employed at 5 Star Oriental Medicine, they discovered a mutual interest in herbals and what can be done with them.

“I had always been interested in the western herbals. Have been studying them for some time,” Deana expl...