Staff comment: Hiroshige drew many images that included peony flowers - frequently with flying or perching birds.

Peonies - being such attractive flowers - have many lovers in Japan, but they are at the same time famous for the difficulty in cultivation.

They bloom from late April to early May. If you walk around a Japanese garden in early April you will see lovely straw caps covering the seedlings protecting them from sudden coldness. Once they bloom, rain is a big enemy for these lovely flowers. Once the rainy season begins, you will frequently see umbrellas placed in the garden sheltering the peony blossoms! (S.I.)