Paul Harcourt Davies / Wild peonies (Paeonia officinalis) growing on the lower slopes of Mt Vettore, Umbria, Italy, June.

Ernie Janes / Peony hybrid, 'Show Girl', Norfolk, June.

Eric Baccega / Two Rose Chafer (Cetonia aurata) on Peony flower (Paeonia suffruticosa) Alsace, France, May.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Male peony (Paeonia mascula) in flower in woodland, Monte St Angelo, Gargano, Puglia, Italy. April.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Male peony (Paeonia mascula) in flower, Monte St Angelo, Gargano, Puglia, Italy. April.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Poet's narcissus (Narcissus poeticus) in flower in woodland, nr Monte St Angelo, Gargano, Puglia, Italy. April.

Paul Harcourt Davies / Wild peonies ( (Paeonia officinalis)) in flower on the lower slopes of Mount Vettore, Umbria, Italy. May.

Milan Radisics / Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) at the base of a peony bush in a cottage garden, Vertes Mountains, Hungary.

Philippe Clement / Fine-leaved peony / fern leaf peony (Paeonia tenuifolia) in flower, native to native to the Caucasus Mountains of Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Kazakhstan. May