Ok, so who else has had the weirdest weather this spring?
In the past month we’ve had
Frost damage on the peony buds and leaves. (usually very rare for us but quite wide-spread this year!)
A long, too cool spring combined with a mini-drought. (Really? Those 2 things can go together?)
When it does rain, thunderstorms with winds so strong they heaved several established herbaceous peonies!
I’m so glad peonies are resilient and managed to put on a show nonetheless!
And since Covid-19 prevented us from doing Open Farm Days this year, we’ve organized this “Virtual Tour” for you here!
This is only our Week 1 blooms. Stay tuned here as the coming weeks unfold!
Week 1: May 27 - June 2
The first Walk AMONG the Blooms
Starting a week before our first blooms, the kids began hunting through the fields, each trying to guess which plant would pop first.
On the 27th, when we finally got our first handful of tree peony seedling blooms, my three year old was so excited she was literally squeezing the poor flowers!
Not great for the flowers, but kind of understandable and so, so precious.
On our first walk, we spotted these 2 lovely seedlings and I quickly photographed them.
Unfortunately I didn’t have my plant list with me so couldn’t capture the seedling IDs but both are definitely ones we’ll consider for future propagation!
First Potting Shed Bouquet
I spend so much time in my potting shed during the bloom season that I just must have bouquets there. Always.
All peonies pictured are unnamed seedlings.
The first bees
Though our peonies aren’t North American natives, that doesn’t seem to be stopping the pollinators.
For me, one of the things I most enjoy about bloom season is watching the bees and other pollinators flocking to our fields.
The first Seedlings
In 2019 we identified our first round of tree peony seedlings for propagation and our email subscribers helped us name them!
This year, these seedlings are back with flare with several of the group are among the first to bloom on our farm
Teddi’s Gift (Seedling 140251)
This year the blooms were the fullest they’ve been to date. Some blooms remained semi-double but most were full, puffy, slightly lavender puff balls!
Lena’s Legacy (Seedling 140651)
In previous years, this plant just hadn’t been special. Then last year, these amazing, loosely petaled, high-built blooms emerged!
This year, Lena’s Legacy almost doubled in size, putting out clumps of double and semi-double blooms. A new favorite for us!
Ella’s Dream (Seedling 140650)
Ella’s Dream has been one of my favorite whites for about 4 years. The plant habit is amongst the best in our fields and the flowers are HUGE - the size of a pasta plate.
This year, she bloomed like mad but unfortunately, as was true for tree peonies located in our farms’ cooler micro-climates, the blooms were not as full as usual.
Normally Ella’s Dream, sports double blooms with a few semi-doubles. This year, we had almost all semi-doubles. Then - adding insult to injury - a sever thunderstorm damaged the blooms before I could get good pics!
Despite that Ella’s Dream remained beautiful and floriferous, with huge, voluptuous blooms. I’m already looking forward to next year when we hope to see Ella’s Dream return to her normal, full glory!
The first Chinese heritage Tree Peonies
A few days after our Seedlings start, the Chinese types kick in.
In our extreme weather, the Chinese varieties sometimes struggle. But this year, several varieties are thriving!
We hope to divide many of them this coming Fall!
This year, the star of the Chinese Heritage types has definitely been “Cun Song Ying.” The plant is tall - over 4 ft - and the flower stand like huge, frilled cups on top. The color is a soft pink, that to my eye, has a touch of salmon.
Can’t get enough of this plant.
The first herbaceous hybrid
Peony “Vanilla Schnapps” has consistently been our farm’s first blooming Herbaceous Peony.
I love this plant so much that, when it blooms, I probably visit it more than 5x/daily. (Plus cut armfuls of blooms to take in the house).
the First Japanese Heritage varieties
The Japanese types are always the last to start in Week 1. But once the start, oh the impact they have!!!
I no some folks criticize the Japanese types - saying the flowers are too large for the tree habit.
But seriously People, are we really complaining about THAT????
Yachiotsubaki
Yachioyatsubaki had decidedly NOT been a favorite in years past. In fact I found the plant to be fussy, the flower color average at best and was even thinking we might stop growing it.
I was so, so wrong.
This year, Yachiotsubaki just became.
These huge, salmon toned flowers appeared. The sluggish plants sprang to life, increasing markedly in size.
Yachiotsubaki has moved from my “shovel” list to become of one of my favorite Japanese Heritage varieties.
Shin Jitsu Getsu
I look forward to this variety (and its kissing cousin “Asahi Minato”) every year.
The color is hard to describe - like a bright, pink-orange-coral. (Is that a color)?
Not sure but I know that Shin Jitsu Getsu just jumps out of the garden when it’s in bloom. Can’t get enough.
Shima Nishiki
What a dramatic plant!
Shima Nishiki is identical to Tree Peony “Tai You” except that is has a bud mutation that causes random striping on some flowers.
This means that on one plant you get some obviously striped flowers like this:
And some flowers identical to “Tai You” like this:
So that’s a wrap on Week 1. Back out to the fields to capture more pics in order to bring you Virtual Tour Week 2!