Tag Archives: peony garden

Blooming days for Peonies

Peony lovers all over the USA, including me, count the days every year when the Peonies are blooming.

 

From May 15 to June 28, Peony Farm is once again opening its farm to the public for the much awaited blooming of the peonies. During this 2 months window, peonies of different blooming periods (there are 7 of them) will be opening 7-10 days apart. This is why some peony lovers choose different varieties in order to enjoy an extended blooming period.

Peony Farm Peonies on Parade
Peonies on Parade – blooming time at Peony Farm , WA

 

Peony Farm will be posting photos of peonies in bloom at:
Peony Farm facebook

To ensure that your selection is reserved, place your order early as they move pretty fast. Also, check out the new selections coming this fall at the website Peony Farm.

Peony Farm in Review

Peony Farm in Review 2014

We’ve created a short video to share some of  the peonies in the field and  some visitor moments …

We hope you enjoy it.

Peony Farm Video 2014

 

 

Pink Peonies, Pretty in Pink

One of my favorite things to do when the peonies are done blooming is to go over the photos I’ve taken during the blooming season.

How pretty the pink peonies are. Field of pink peonies, doubles, semi-doubles, and some singles.

Sarah BernhardtKansas row cropped-beautiful-senorita-shrunk15.jpgPeople have asked me time and again, which is my favorite. And as I start the selection process, i realize what an impossible task that is.

I love peonies and there isn’t a single one in my farm that ranks higher than the other. Used to think it’s  Monsieur Jules Elie, then it’s Princess Margaret, now I’m leaning toward Walter Faxon!

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Whichever one it is, one thing rings true. Peonies are pretty in Pink. Just ask any peony lover.
Find a huge selection of Pink Peonies at Peony Farm

 

Peony Festival in Sequim

Every year, China holds a Peony Festival around the middle of April. 

Peony, representing elegance and dignity, enjoys the reputation of
“King of Flower Kingdom” and is considered as China’s national flower.
The Luoyang peony has a history of over 1500 years, and now boasts more
than 1200 kinds. Peony was named the city flower of Luoyang in 1982. And
the Luoyang Peony Festival has been an annual event in every spring
ever since 1983.

Luoyang Peony Festival, Peony Farm Peony Festival

During the festival, Luoyang city is
fully alive and looks like an ocean of peonies, with fantastic colors
ranging from the original red to the supplemented white, yellow, purple
and even the rarest dark. Among all the species, “Yaohuang” and “Weizi”
peonies are the most noble ones and known as the “king” and “queen”.
Apart from the peonies displays, there are a wide range of performances
and activities: the dramatic opening ceremony, the peonies photography
contest, lantern fairs, the exhibitions of calligraphy and others.

This year its going to be held on April from April 16-28.  The trip cost from $3,088.00 per person double occupancy (single supplement $700.00)

China would be a great trip to make. 

Peonies on Parade in Sequim, Wa.

However, if time and money is an issue, how about taking a trip to visit Sequim, Washington where Peony Farm holds its annual peony festival called “Peonies On Parade“.



The Annual Peonies on Parade heralds the blooming of the peonies.  We invite you to Peony Farms  4th Annual Peonies on Parade.

If you are in the area, do come and visit. During this time. the farm is fully alive, and not only with visitors.  Like Luoyang, it looks like an ocean of peonies, with fantastic colors ranging from the original red to the supplemented
white, yellow, coral, purple and pink!

Enjoy the tree peonies with their impressive flowers and the early blooming peonies will impress you with
their color and variety.  With over 250 varieties and 2,000 peonies planted,  you will see various peonies in bloom ffrom May to the end of June.  Stroll the garden,  and enjoy the peonies.   There is no admission fee. 

And, we have quite a display of the much talked about itoh peonies and the amazing tree peonies.

Eliza Lundy Peony, red peonies at Peony Farm, WA

Welcome Garden Clubs

If your garden club wants to come and visit, please make a reservation.
We love meeting with your group when we are closed to the public.
This allows us to give you a special tour and our full attention to the group. 

Peonies on Parade, Peony Farm, WA

Available Selections

The selection is great especially if you are looking to develop a peony garden and a boon to those looking  to add some distinctive ones to their  collection.  We’ve also added a new Tree Peony corner for the Tree Peony Lovers!

Hephestos Tree Peony, Peony Farm, WA

I LOVE PEONIES  

Every year, I am just like other peony lover, passionate about my peonies. When asked which one is my favorite,  my answer would be the one I am holding at the time!  Peony flowers are so stunning, I can’t help it.

Itoh Peonies, Peony Farm, WA

To view available selections, check out:   I Love Peonies website

To purchase peony root divisions, click on  Peony Farm Shopping Cart

Planting Peonies before Spring

How do you plant Peonies when the ground is frozen?

This is a question we normally don’t encounter.  However, last November 2013, we have some peonies left in the cooler, which we are shipping to customers now and through March.

Bare Root Peonies at Peony Farm

So, how do you plant peonies when the ground is frozen? especially when roots are sprouting?

First, let establish that peonies require 400-500 cold hours.  That means,  they will survive freezing and snowing temperatures.  They are hardy plants.

So, when your soil is frozen, and some areas are still experiencing fall,  I’ve been told that you can keep the roots in the refrigerator for a little bit, until you are able to dig and work the soil.  You should do this even if you know that this is only a respite, and your area will experience freeze and snow again.

Mulching Peony roots that have sprouted.

Peonies with sprouts

If the roots you received have sprouts, protect them with a light
mulch. And just like the treatment of the mulch you put on tree
peonies, remove the mulch after the first frost.

Pot the Peonies.

Lastly, as I
indicated to a customer, if you have to wait a long time to plant your
peonies, plant them in a plastic pot, filled with peat moss, not potting
soil. Leave the pot outside in the snow and rain. They will benefit
from it.

Replant into the ground when the soil is workable making
sure not to disturb the peony plant too much. Cut the sides of the pot
so that you can slide the it out into your prepared planting site.


Join the Peony Festival at Peony Farm

Peony Festival at Peony Farm, WA



Please do visit us at the sites below for current availability.
www.ilovepeonies.com

www.shop.ilovepeonies.com
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Plant Sanitation for Healthy Peonies

Plant Sanitation

One of the keys to the successful planting and growing of fine Peonies is Plant Sanitation.

The WSU Whatcom County of Master Gardeners issued such an article May 1st.  (https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=376949825674910&id=)

What to Consider in the Care of Peonies

Disease.  To prevent disease make sure your garden is kept clean, that air circulates, and that plants are kept healthy. Messenger™ and Neptune’s Harvest™ are two organic products to keep your plants healthy and disease resistant.

Botrytis – young stalks wilt and die, buds turn black. Onset is in early spring when temperatures remain below 70 degrees. Botrytis will kill tree and herbaceous peonies if not treated. Botrytis thrives in cool humid conditions and can be minimized by planting peonies where they have good air circulation. When noticed, cut off diseased portions of the plant, dipping the pruners in a 10% solution of bleach between each cutting to ensure the disease does not spread. Throw out the diseased portions; do not compost.

A more aggressive option would be to use systemic fungicide labeled for use on peonies.Check with your local cooperative extension.

Leaf blotch develops during warm, moist weather. Glossy, dark purple spots form on the upper surfaces of leaves. Again, removal of infected leaves and good fall cleanup are necessary for control. Avoid overhead irrigation.


Spent Flowers.

Remove flowers as soon as they fade to prevent seed development, which can use up needed food reserves.

The faded flower should be removed just below the flower, leaving as much foliage as possible.

Clip off spent flower stems , cutting on the inside.

To keep the bush looking beautiful, make your cut well inside the plant, so you don’t see the cut-off tips.

Lush foliage is providing ongoing growth to root.

Plant Sanitation procedures that must be observed for Peonies as well:

Removing Completely Dead Plants
Trees, shrubs, and other plants which have died or are about to die should be removed entirely, including the root system. See disposal procedures on the last page. Such plants could have root rot or similar problems caused by disease organisms. If a disease organism is involved, the soil and plant are contaminated with the organism. Precautions in addition to plant removal and disposal should be taken.

Do not move contaminated soil to other areas. Watch for soil clinging to shovels, boots, stakes, etc. 

After plant removal, sterilize tools used to remove and cut up the plant. Clean boots, stakes, etc., which contacted the soil.

Do not plant the same kind of plant or related plants in the contaminated area unless the soil is fumigated first or completely replaced with uncontaminated soil. Even so, it is difficult to completely eliminate disease organisms from the soil.

With potted plants, place the plant and soil in the garbage. Remove soil crumbs clinging to the pot and saucer, and sterilize the pot and saucer if they are to be saved. If not, place them in the garbage. Sterilize pots and saucers by soaking them in a solution of 1 part household bleach to 9 parts water for 30 minutes. Sometimes a solution of equal parts of bleach and water is suggested for 30 minutes. If the higher bleach concentration is used, rinse items in clean water after soaking. Caution: Bleach can discolor metal and clothing. Contaminated tools, stakes, etc., should be sterilized (see below) or placed in the garbage.

Sterilizing Tools If a diseased or dead plant part is cut, the disease organism will probably be on the tool and could be spread to healthy parts when cut. Thus, sterilize tools (shears, knives, saws, chisels, axes, etc. by washing in soap and water and swabbing in rubbing alcohol) before using on healthy plant parts . Allow to dry. If practical, contaminated shovels and other digging tools should be sterilized. If not, wash them. If hands are used to pinch off or handle affected plant parts, wash hands before handling healthy plant parts.

Disposing of Diseased or Dead Plants and Plant Parts Whole plants, branches, twigs, chips, shavings, root pieces, and other plant debris should be placed in the garbage, burned, or taken to the dump. Do not compost them. Diseased fallen leaves and needles should also be destroyed. Annual plants which normally die each autumn need not be destroyed if there is no reason to suspect any problem.

A novice Peony Grower

As a gardener growing peonies for retail sales,  I am a novice.  And, I am so grateful to have someone who has been in the business a long time to extend a kindly hand and educate me in the finer points of the business.

Yes, growing them for fun is a lot easier.  As a peony grower,  there is a lot to learn.  Use of planting space, rotation, planting for the following year’s sale, growing healthy peony roots, making sure that the picture I am posting is the variety that I am describing, and on and on.


Bottom Line:  I don’t know what I don’t know.  And talking with Don,  I get these little nuggets of wisdom.


Don Hollingsworth of Hollingsworth Nursery is the kind man I am speaking of.   Not only is he kind, he is also a fountain of peony information.  Thank You Don!

From your friend at Peony Farm . 


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20 more Peonies are being added to Peony Farm’s collection

New Peony Varieties Coming Soon


Peony Farm, Sequim, WA is expecting delivery of beautiful, new varieties of peonies mid September this year. This addition is in inline with Peony Farm’s goal to make more varieties of peonies available locally. 


Varieties like Amalia Olson, Henry Bockstoce, Lavon and Petticoat Flounce are among the herbaceous peonies; Cora Louise is the newest itoh peony addition;  Ruffled Sunset and Godaishu tops the list among the Tree Peonies.


Petticoat Flounce is creating quite a stir and is much in demand on the Pre-Order.  Bartzella Itoh peony, however, with its lush shrub and big,vibrant yellow flowers captured a lot of people’s attention while Red Charm peony wowed the visitors with its extraordinary luscious red flowers.

Here are some photos.  You can view more of the peonies collection at: Herbaceous Peonies at Peony Farm



Peonies On Parade

On another note, Peony Farm experienced quite a turnout in this years’ Peony on Parade.  The visitors were rewarded with a view of the beautiful, dazzling peonies in bloom. Although the peonies were late in blooming due to the weather,  visitors just came back to visit when the blooms finally arrived.  And they were rewarded to see quite a variety of peonies all in one place.  Peony Farm carries peonies in all flower form – single, japanese, semi-double, double and bomb. And it was rewarding for the visitors to see such a variety locally, all in one place.

To view Peony Farm’s website, go to:Peonies Catalog at