First, thank you for the loads of comments, emails and messages we received about our Week 1 Tour!
Your (virtual) enthusiasm almost made up for the fact that we couldn’t do Open Farm Days this year.
Meanwhile, back at the farm, flowering kicked into high gear during Week 2!
Truth? I’m actually pretty exhausted taking so many pictures and doing field inventory.
(I know - complaining about that is obnoxious. I’ll stop).
Week 2 brought:
The last of the Tree Peony Seedlings
The last of the Chinese and Japanese Heritage Varieties
The first of the Lutea Hybrid Tree Peonies
The bulk of the Herbaceous Hybrids (so, so amazing)
Week 2 also brought winds so extreme we lost entire sections of our roof.
So if you notice that some peonies that normally don’t flop are looking floppy, that’s why!
Now, without further ado, here’s Week 2!
Week 2
June 3 - June 9
The last of the seedlings
So many goods one from Week 2. Here are some we’re likely to propagate and have started to assign field names.
Catherine Chinue
My daughter’s favorite Seedling so named after her. Took heavy frost damage this year but still managed to produce 1, practically perfect, bloom!
Not Yet Field Named
This one we selected first for color - which looks pink in the photo but IRL it’s more like a mix of red and white tones that result in an overall pink effect)
Second, the plant habit is erect and holds its blooms in stately clusters at the top of the plant. The overall effect in the landscape is striking!
Carl’s Calling
Despite taking heavy frost damage, this Seedling still managed to flower well (though flowers were less full than previous years).
What I love about this Carl’s Calling is its color. It’s a pink-shaded lilac (see comparison to an actual lilac flower) but appears more of a true lilac in the landscape.
All that plus fragrance and fertility too!
Not Yet Field Named
This Seedling was unremarkable in years past.
Then this year - poof - a beautiful double. Goes to show, be patient with Tree Peonies. It may take 5 years + for them to achieve their true flower form!
The Last of the Chinese
Yue Gong Zhu Guang
Another one that disappointed me in years past but just “became” itself this year. Beautiful flower form and so many of them!
Definitely one we’ll try dividing this year!
The last of the Japanese
Shima Nishiki
I know I showed this one in the Week 1 Tour but it just kept getting better in Week 2! Look at the distinct striping in the first pic! Look at the loads of saturated red flowers on the shrub.
Can’t get enough…..
Shimane Chojuraku
If I were forced to pic just one Japanese variety, it would be this one.
If the color and bloom size weren’t enough, then the plant’s reliability would seal the deal….
Our Shimane Chojuraku rows are in one of the windiest, coldest parts of our farm. Just how it performed anyway!
Asahi Minato
My son and I just stood and stared at this plant this year. The red is among the brightest in our fields. And the plant is incredibly vigorous.
We divided Asahi Minato last year and the 1st year divisions even set buds this spring! Reliable and beautiful!
The first Luteas
Age of Gold
My favorite yellow Tree Peony. Need I explain?
Leda
If you garden in Zone 4 and are new to Tree Peonies, start with Leda.
It laughs at hard winters and goes on to produce loads of large, perfect flowers. Our first year divisions are so vigorous this year, most set buds and are the size of many 2nd year tree peonies.
High Noon
Also great for beginning, cold zone gardeners.
High Noon is one of our tallest Lutea Hybrid. For us the color is somewhat brighter than “Age of Gold” so really pops in the field.
The hybrids hit their (glorious) stride
Rosedale
Perfect color.
Perfect cut flower.
Enough said.
Valkyrie
Largely used for hybridization, I grow it for cut flowers. You can’t beat the deep red that doesn’t fade.
These flowers are on young plants so not fully formed. Yet beautiful anyway.
Coral Sunset
Color beyond compare.
Pink Hawaiian Coral
Slightly deeper coral than Coral Sunset and just as beautiful.
Pastelegance
Even on this 2nd year division the flowers were stellar. I can’t even describe the color. Unlike anything else we grow.
Pastelegance - alongside Manitowoc Maiden - are the 2 herbaceous hybrids I cannot live without
Dreamtime
Slower growing but even small plants put on huge, graceful flowers. I have it planted outside my dining room window, just so I can see it everyday. Stunning
Pastelorama
The hybrid everyone wants. Can you see why? Even on this second year division, the flowers are full and lush.
And the color - I don’t even know how to describe it. Like Pastelegance, I’ve never seen this color in any other peony.
Manitowoc Maiden
I wait for this flower every year. As in, check-it-multiple-times/day-with-baited-breath kind of waiting.
I can’t seem to photograph it well but the form is superb. Sometimes, on younger plants, the stamen are visible - which I love.
When prices come down, this is a must for cut flower farmers.
