2019 Peonies at Duke Gardens Spring Plant Sale

I've never been to Duke Garden's Spring Plant Sale before until now. I just went this past weekend to see what it was all about. The sale is an annual event for the Sarah P. Duke Gardens on the Duke University campus, and it is a fundraiser to help fund their summer intern program. I couldn't believe how many people were there, and how early they got up to get the best plants. The earlybird really did get the worm at this plant sale. The plant sale was from 8:00 am-12:00 noon. I arrived at 8:30 am, and I struggled to find a parking spot. I got lucky because one of the earlybirds was already finished their shopping and leaving!


"Deer Resistant" Peony Plants
Duke Gardens Spring Plant Sale
Of course I wanted to see what peonies they had for sale there. I did see several people with peonies in their wagons, herbaceous peonies with big fat buds, and a several intersectional peonies as well. I kept asking the people with intersectional peonies in their wagons where they got them from, most couldn't remember, but the ones who did pointed me to a place that didn't have any left to purchase. So those intersectional peonies really did go fast! The only peonies I found that were still left for sale at 8:30 am were a few herbaceous peonies with a "Deer Resistant" sign on them. (The sign was so cute, I just couldn't resist snapping a photo of it!)


Duke Gardens Spring Plant Sale
There were so many people there and so many plant vendors as well. Many of the plants had been propagated and potted up by the Duke Gardens staff from their own gardens. There were also specialty vendors selling everything from camellias in bloom, redbuds in bloom, peonies in bud, hellebores in bloom, ferns, hostas, annuals, and veggies. There was pretty much something for everyone. They even had a carnivorous plant tent! The local Master Gardeners were also there with their own booth giving out growing advice and selling plants they'd propagated.


Duke Gardens Spring Plant Sale
The line to check out was quite long (almost 30 minutes), but I still had a great time, and I would definitely go again in the future. However I would need to go much earlier to find a parking spot before 8:00 am to see everything that's being offered at the sale. I didn't buy any peonies, but I did find a couple of things. I purchased 2 ferns and a double hellebore. The whole even was like a feeding frenzy for plant lovers. All of the people at the sale were like goldfish that had just been fed. The amount of excitement in the air was palpable. It was nice to be near that many other plant enthusiasts and feel their energy and happiness.


Peonies and Blue Pottery
Duke Gardens Spring Plant Sale

Redbud, Camellia, and Intersectional Peony
Duke Gardens Spring Plant Sale

2019 First Peony Bloom of the Season!

Yay! It's finally here! I have been anticipating this moment for quite some time, and now it is here. I thought I'd be ready this year, but for some reason I am already feeling behind. I have a large load of free mulch sitting in my driveway (which I am very thankful for), and I have a new job I just started 2 weeks ago (which I am also very thankful for), and now it is peony season (which I am also very, very thankful for). Let's just say there's a lot going on right now... I guess that's how it usually goes, though. Feast or famine. The trick is not to eat too much at the feast, I guess. (And maybe save a little for the famine...)


First Bloom of the Season
Tree Peony 'White Phoenix'
Anyway, Tree Peony 'White Phoenix' was the first peony to bloom in my garden this year, pretty much the same as last year. Tree Peony 'White Phoenix' and a dwarf red fernleaf hybrid both bloomed together on the first day of the season last year on April 2nd. So it looks like our peony season is starting just a couple days earlier this year. I don't think I saw any blooms open on the red fernleaf hybrid yet this year. Tree Peony 'Yao Huang' ('Yao's Yellow') bloomed the day after Tree Peony 'White Phoenix' last year. Tree Peony 'Yao Huang' looks like it is about to pop open. So let's see if it blooms 2nd again this year.

2019 'Scrumdidleyumptious' Intersectional Peony Update

Fake Intersectional Peony 'Scrumdidleyumptious'
Remember that 2018 Tulip World Offers Intersectional Peony 'Scrumdidleyumptious' for $12.95!? Well maybe I should have known better, but I couldn't resist. It has started growing here already, and unfortunately it is not the correct variety. I can tell already because it has herbaceous peony foliage instead of intersectional peony foliage. Another reader in Georgia who purchased these as well reported the same information - herbaceous foliage. It is quite disappointing because I was hoping these were correct since no one else seems to be offering this peony for sale. I didn't find it at any APS Commercial Growers this year. So it wasn't on my 2019 Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List.


Fake Intersectional Peony 'Scrumdidleyumptious' Foliage
I know I shouldn't be that upset about it since they were only $13, but I don't see any other opportunity to acquire this plant right now. I'd like to add Tulip World to a list of growers selling fake peonies, kind of like my 2018 Ebay Peony Seller Reviews. I don't have a list like that right now, but perhaps if I collect enough of these "mislabeled" varieties from suspect growers, then perhaps I'll start another list of this nature. I wish I had better news for all of you, but I guess the hunt is still on. Let me know if anyone finds a more reputable source for this peony variety. I'd still love to own it (and see how it grows here)!


Intersectional Peony 'Scrumdidleyumptious' Sign