Articles about Peony bloom
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Tuesday, June 18, 2019

2019 American Peony Society Convention Reiman Gardens Peony Flower Exhibition


2019 APS Convention Flower Exhibition
Reiman Gardens Garden Room

I must say I really enjoyed the natural feeling of the 2019 American Peony Society Exhibition room this year, which was in the Garden Room of Reiman Gardens in Ames, Iowa. There was so much wood in the room, but not too much, that it gave it a soft feeling. The space also had lots of windows, mirrors, and natural lighting, perfect for showing off all of those gorgeous peony blooms. Even with the natural lighting, the room was still cool enough to keep the peony blossoms fresh for the competition and exhibition. So we had the best of both worlds.


Itoh and Herbaceous Hybrid Peonies
2019 APS Convention Flower Exhibition

There was just something about having those natural wood beams around the room, that just made the peonies pop! I just couldn't stop taking pictures of the peonies against the wood. The rich, light brown color just made the perfect companion to the brightly colored peonies. The show was actually really well attended. There were many, many members of the public, plus a busload of peony enthusiasts from the Heartland Peony Society that came to visit on Sunday. It was nice to see the excitement of everyone - new and seasoned peony enthusiasts alike, and many new people decided to become APS members as well. All in all it was quite a successful show for the APS and for peonies!


Peony Collection Entries
2019 APS Convention Flower Exhibition


Peony Collection Entry
2019 APS Convention Flower Exhibition


Sunday, June 16, 2019

2019 American Peony Society Convention Reiman Gardens Peony Flower Bouquets


Reiman Gardens Peony Bouquets

I'm not sure who put together all of the beautiful vases of peonies at the Reiman Gardens front desk for the 2019 American Peony Society Convention, but they were gorgeous! I only wish I had this many colors and varieties of peonies to pick at once to brighten up a vase! No where else on earth will you find as many peony varieties from all different bloom seasons - early season, mid season, and late season all gathered together and on display than you will at a peony flower exhibition. If you are lucky enough to be able to visit a peony show, then you are in for a unique experience! Prepare to be dazzled and delighted!!


Reiman Gardens Front Desk Covered with Peonies

There wasn't an inch of space left on the welcome desk at Reiman Gardens on the days of the flower exhibition. Glorious bouquets of dark maroon, pale peach, bright pink, cherry red, and sunny yellow greeted APS Members and Reiman garden visitors alike. If you came just to visit the garden that weekend, you happened upon a real treat! The bouquets upon bouquets of peonies at the front gave away that something was going on. I'd like to say I have an easy favorite of all of the bouquets on the front desk, but there were so many of them I really loved, my mind can't settle on just one! If you didn't get to see these lovely flowers at the show, I hope you get a chance to enjoy them now! :-)


Reiman Gardens Peony Bouquets


Reiman Gardens Peony Bouquets


Reiman Gardens Front Desk Peony Bouquets

Saturday, June 8, 2019

2019 APS Best in Show Peony 'Noma Volz' Awarded to First Time Grand Champion Winner, Mike Miller


Mike Miller with his First Ever Grand Champion
Peony 'Norma Volz'

It was an exciting day on the show table all around with many entrants on the Court of Honor this year that may not have been the usual suspects. The same was true for the winner of the whole show - both the flower and the entrant. Mike Miller of Great Seal Peonies won the top honor for the first time ever at the 2019 APS Flower Exhibition this year. Peony 'Norma Volz' was the flower that won him the honor, eliciting three ribbons - a 1st place Blue Ribbon, a Court of Honor Rosette (light blue) and the Grand Champion Rosette (purple). You can tell by the look on his face how thrilled he was, and I couldn't have been more happy for him. It really is nice to see new winners on the Court of Honor and for the Grand Champion of the show. Peony 'Norma Volz' was also a first time Grand Champion, as this peony variety had never before won the show's top honors - until now! Congratulations to Mike with his prize winning show flower, Peony 'Norma Volz'!


Peony 'Norma Volz'
2019 APS Best in Show / Grand Champion

Thursday, May 9, 2019

2010 Too Much Rain Rots Herbaceous Peony Blooms


Peony 'Bowl of Cream' Rotten Bloom

I've never seen anything quite like this before. Usually the buds and blooms on herbaceous peonies get busted or die way before they start to open. These buds on Peony 'Bowl of Cream' and Peony 'Kansas' made it pretty much all the way to open, but the seemingly endless rain we've had this year seems to have badly rotted some buds that started to open in the rain. I'm not sure if this is some kind of disease or blight or really just rotting from too much water. Luckily this only happened on one bloom on each of these plants. So it's definitely not systemic. My guess is these peonies will be back to normal next year (provided Mother Nature pulls back on the rain a bit!) Let's see...


Peony 'Kansas' Rotten Bloom

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

2019 Peony 'Smith Family Yellow' Best Performer - Week 5


Intersectional Peony 'Smith Family Yellow'
Southern Peony Best Performer

It didn't take long for this beauty to get to be a full sized magnificent plant. I first planted this Intersectional Peony 'Smith Family Yellow' in 2015, and it has grown rapidly ever since. This peony was hybridized by Don Smith, and he even mentions it as being one of his most popular with the public in my interview with him, 2016 Peony Hybridizer Interview - Don R. Smith. It was registered in 2002. So it's actually a pretty new peony to the market. I know that Peony 'Bartzella' is the gold (pun intended) standard of intersectional peonies, but this one is a little better to me. There is less red in the blooms, and the petals are a bit more regular and rounded. Each ones of the blooms is like a bright yellow sunshine on the bush. The blooms cover the bush well on all sides, and the bright yellow blooms of this peony just lift you up and make you feel sunny! It looks like there are 2 vendors offering it for sale this year (at the same price point I bought it for in 2015), 2019 Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List. I'm sad to say it hasn't come down in price at all since I bought it 4 years ago, but it is worth every penny!


Intersectional Peony 'Smith Family Yellow'
Southern Peony Best Performer


Intersectional Peony 'Smith Family Yellow'
Southern Peony Best Performer


Intersectional Peony 'Smith Family Yellow'
Southern Peony Best Performer


Tuesday, May 7, 2019

2019 Intersectional Peony 'Joanna Marlene' Update


Intersectional Peony 'Joanna Marlene' from Ebay, in Bud

Since so many people have been asking me about that Intersectional Peony 'Joanna Marlene' root I bought on Ebay, I decided I should write an update about her. There were several comments on the article I wrote about purchasing this peony on Ebay, 2015 Intersectional Peony 'Joanna Marlene' on Ebay, wanting to know the status of this plant. I must say I was excited to see its first bud developing this year. This peony took quite a while to get to blooming size, but it finally made it. I was so ready and full of anticipation for it to open. After all these years of waiting, the moment of truth had finally arrived!


Intersectional Peony 'Joanna Marlene' from Ebay, Old Bloom

I did actually capture a photo of it in bud one evening last week. However I totally missed it opening the next day. (Pesky work, what's it good for?! LOL) By the time I had a chance to snap another photo of it 3 days later, there wasn't much left of it, and not much color either. Judging by the color of the bud that was just about to open, though, it looks like this peony is probably the correct cultivar. Sometimes the first bloom on a plant is not very indicative of what a full sized plant's bloom may look like. So it's quite possible that the blooms on this plant will have more petals next year. I guess I will have to reserve making a final judgement on the positive identification of this plant, but so far the prognosis looks good!

Monday, May 6, 2019

2019 Peony 'Festiva Maxima' First Bouquet of the Season


Peony 'Festiva Maxima'

I couldn't help but pick these last week when I arrived home one day. They were spilling over into my driveway, and I really didn't want to run into them. I'm so glad I brought them inside. They perfumed the entire downstairs of my house for days. If you don't grow Peony 'Festiva Maxima', you really should. This peony blooms like crazy with over 100 blooms on each of the plants planted by my mailbox. I have divided this peony several times, given several roots to friends and family, and it just keeps coming back even bigger! It grows like a weed down here, and it smells so lovely, with a sweet rose-like scent. If you do grow it, don't forget to bring a few indoors to enjoy their beauty and perfume inside!


Peony 'Festiva Maxima'


Sunday, May 5, 2019

2019 Intersectional Peony Blooms Late Mid Week 5

Is it bad to say that I'm already looking forward to next year? I know, I know. I still have a few buds that haven't opened yet, and several late herbaceous peonies to look forward to, but I must say I really am going to miss all of these peony blooms, especially these colorful intersectional peonies. I feel like there's a rainbow in my garden when these peonies are in bloom! Intersectional Peony 'Mock Orange Yellow' open for the first time for me this year, and I love the orange color! Sometimes you can find a delicate pinkish bloom on Intersectional Peony 'Old Rose Dandy', and this is a good example of one. Intersectional Peony 'Cora Louise' is always a great plant with its standout white blooms and purple tinted base. Intersectional Peony 'Pastel Splendor' has so many colors in the bloom and is very interesting to look at. Sometimes the blooms on Intersectional Peony 'Little Darlin'' are wild and crazy and sometimes they're neat and orderly. This one is the "neat and orderly" variety, but the color is what draws you in! Intersectional Peony 'Lunar Glow' which bloomed for the first time for me this year has a soft yellow color and very soft rounded petals. Intersectional Peony 'Luxuriant' also opened for the first time for me this year having good substance and symmetry.


Intersectional Peony 'Mock Orange Yellow'


Intersectional Peony 'Old Rose Dandy'


Intersectional Peony 'Cora Louise'


Intersectional Peony 'Pastel Splendor'


Intersectional Peony 'Little Darlin''


Intersectional Peony 'Lunar Glow'


Intersectional Peony 'Luxuriant'


Saturday, May 4, 2019

2019 Peony Blooms Late Mid Week 5

I think the bulk of the blooms are winding down now. Week 4 and Week 5 are pretty much the biggest weeks for bloom here. It has been a really nice show this year, but I am taking notes on what I need to improve for next year. I feel very lucky to have the Peony 'Etched Salmon' planted right next to one of my garden benches, as it is so lovely and symmetrical and just beautiful to view up close. I was really impressed with the substance and long-lasting color of Peony 'Red Red Rose'. Peony 'Raspberry Clown' never fails to delight with its multi-colored blossoms. Peony 'Gilbert Barthelot' is a stupendous plant and always loaded with blooms. Peony 'Perfect Princess' gets even more perfect every year. I have it planted right next to my front door to greet people on the way in. Peony 'Pink Derby' has a whopper of a bloom, and Peony 'Carolina Moon' is a cute flattish white and yellow combo peony. I hope you are enjoying your bloom season as much as I am!


Peony 'Etched Salmon'


Peony 'Red Red Rose'


Peony 'Raspberry Clown'


Peony 'Gilbert Barthelot'


Peony 'Perfect Princess'


Peony 'Pink Derby'


Peony 'Carolina Moon'

Thursday, May 2, 2019

2019 360° View of Intersectional Peony 'Keiko' 愛幕 (Adored) - 'Pink Double Dandy'

This peony, 'Keiko' 愛幕 (Adored) aka 'Pink Double Dandy', is always one of my Best Performers. This intersectional peony plant just had so many pretty, pink flowers on it, that every side was covered. So I decided to take this series of photos showing the peony blooms on every side of the bush. There are just so many flowers on this plant, that there was not one side that wasn't covered. If you're not yet convinced that this peony, Peony 'Keiko' (Adored) Best Performer is one of the best intersectional peonies out there, then perhaps this will convince you...















360° View of Intersectional Peony 'Keiko' 愛幕 (Adored)
'Pink Double Dandy'

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

2019 Peony 'Watermelon Wine' Best Performer - Week 4

I must say there is something about Peony 'Watermelon Wine' that really calls you from across the garden. I think it may be the vibrant hot pink color, the way it holds its blooms high above the plant, did I mention the enchanting color? Intersectional Peony 'Watermelon Wine' was hybridized by Roger Anderson and registered in 1999. This plant has grown really well every year in my garden since I've gotten it. Of course it came to me as a really huge root, so it had a great starting point. I can't wait to see how it continues to grow and bloom! There are a couple of peony growers offering this intersectional peony for sale this year. Check out our 2019 Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List for availability and prices. This brazen beauty is very vigorous, quite a tall plant, and flowers reliably, and has HOT PINK flowers (a rare color for intersectional peonies these days).


Intersectional Peony 'Watermelon Wine'
Southern Peony Best Performer


Intersectional Peony 'Watermelon Wine'
Southern Peony Best Performer


Intersectional Peony 'Watermelon Wine'
Southern Peony Best Performer