Saturday, February 22, 2020

2020 Southern Peony RHS Color Matching


Peony Color Matching Tree Peony 'Lavender Hill'

I was able to capture some new peony colors this past bloom season. You can find the results of these new color codings on our Southern Peony Colors page. It takes good timing, a good "to do list", a good memory, and a handy RHS Color Chart to make this happen. It is really easy to miss the bloom on a particular plant on just the right day. Luckily, I was able to capture 13 new color codings last spring for my Southern Peony Color chart. We now have 226 peonies color coded!!! Wow! If you are looking to design with color, whether it be for your garden or for a bouquet, I hope you find our peony color chart useful! Enjoy!!


Peony Color Matching Tree Peony 'KC Red'


Peony Color Matching Intersectional Peony 'Singing in the Rain'

The new peony color codings completed in 2019 and just added to our Southern Peony Color Chart are:

Autumn Harvest - 4A Yellow
Canary Brilliants - 8C Light Yellow
Coral Sunset - 48C Red Pink
Faithful Dream - 38B Light Red Pink
First Arrival - N74C
Krekler's Red - 58A Purple
Magical Mystery Tour - 38B Light Red Pink
Nippon Beauty - 58A Purple
Skylark - 58B Purple Red
Sonoma Apricot - 8C Light Yellow
Sonoma Blessing - 38D Light Red Pink
Tropicana - 52A Dark Pink Red
Zuzu - N155B White



Peony Color Matching Tree Peony 'Shimadaijin'


Peony Color Matching Tree Peony 'Lavender Grace'

Friday, February 21, 2020

2020 First Snow of the Season @ Southern Peony


Southern Peony Snow on Tree Peonies

I was starting to think we might be able to skate by with no snow this winter - especially since it has been so warm this season. However Mother Nature had another plan, and the snow finally found us last night. The kids are all enjoying a day out of school - to play outside for a bit and then come inside to warm up! The tree peonies are not quite as lucky as the children and don't have the option to "come inside to warm up". However these tree peonies are quite hardy and while they are bent over and sad looking today, they will shortly shrug off this cold winter weather and bounce back to blooming in just a few short weeks!


Southern Peony Snow on Tree Peony


Friday, February 14, 2020

2020 Intersectional Peony Buds for ♥ Valentine's Day ♥

It's not quite peony season yet, but now seems like just as good a time as ever to pine for these lovely blossoms! What more could you ask for then a bunch of intersectional peonies in bud, ready to blossom inside a vase in your home on Valentine's Day? Wouldn't that be lovely? One can dream... Luckily for us peony season really is right around the corner. If you're thinking of buy some of those cut flowers sold in stores, maybe consider buying a new peony root or two instead. You'll get way more flowers out of it!! ;-) Here's wishing you a lovely and beautiful Valentine's Day!


Intersectional Peony 'Smith Family Yellow' Bud


Intersectional Peony 'Little Darlin'' Bud


Intersectional Peony 'Canary Brilliants' Bud


Intersectional Peony 'Cora Louise' Bud


Intersectional Peony 'Old Rose Dandy' Bud


Intersectional Peony 'Garden Treasure' Bud


Intersectional Peony 'Sugar Plum Fairy' Bud


Intersectional Peony 'Sonoma YeDo' Bud


Monday, February 10, 2020

2020 It's Time for Tree Peonies!

Can you believe it? They are bursting already!!! I know winter is not done with us yet, but these tree peonies don't care one bit! Their buds are much hardier than herbaceous peony buds since they stay above ground all winter on the stem (although they can still get damaged, but not as often), while more tender herbaceous peony buds hide out at/under the soil during the winter to keep them safe! Thank goodness for tree peonies! I guess that's why we get to enjoy them much sooner in the spring as well since they get a head start on growing. Tree Peonies typically blooms a few weeks earlier than herbaceous peonies. So if you are looking for a great way to extend your peony bloom season - try adding some tree peonies. Once they get established - you won't regret it!


Tree Peony P. ostii


Tree Peony 'Lavender Grace'


Tree Peony 'Fuchsia Ruffles'


Tree Peony 'White Phoenix'

Friday, February 7, 2020

2020 Tree Peony 'Imperial Crown' at Song Sparrow


Tree Peony 'Imperial Crown' at Song Sparrow

Every year I keep hearing that this is going to be the last year of operation at Song Sparrow, but somehow they just keep on going. I have been wanting this Tree Peony 'Imperial Crown' for a few years now. I always hesitate to purchase things because I need to wait until the next month to buy it (for budget reasons), and then by the time the next month rolls around, it is sold out. I'm starting to worry that if I don't order it now, I may lose the opportunity. If anyone knows me, they know how much I love purple, and the purple color on this Tree Peony 'Imperial Crown' is just eye-popping! I hope it's that gorgeous in person. Also if I order it now, I *might* get to see it bloom this spring! That's the nice thing about the tree peonies (and intersectional peonies) at Song Sparrow. They sell them as potted plants that they ship spring through fall! My order is in! I can't wait to get it!