The Chinese tree peonies are riot of color in the front island garden. I worried and fussed over them in late winter when I discovered the deer had been at them, but they held their own council and began showing off about a week ago.
First these deep fuchsia colored buds started to show their colors, pushing their way past the thick outer covering of the bud.
Then they burst into bloom!
A companion bush with lavender blossoms is eager to enter stage right any moment.
The common peonies are just starting to show buds and will take their turn in the spotlight a little later this spring. For now, these saucer sized blooms are more than my heart can handle. I just love the slow excitement that the blooms of springtime bring.
Don’t you agree?
Ooooh! and aaaaah! now that I know what peonies are like, after being gifted some many months ago (when it was spring in NZ), I know exactly what you mean by ‘these saucer sized blooms are more than my heart can handle’! How marvellous to have them growing, and surviving the deer. Here in Auckland it is too warm to grow these blooms. What a joyful, sensuous expression of spring.
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I do recall your beautiful bouquet of peonies earlier, Juliet. I love you phrasing here as they are indeed a “sensuous expression of spring”. Sometimes, the cold dormancy of winter and its bleak qualities seem endless, then the peonies bloom, making the wait worthwhile.
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Ahhhh, I absolutely love peonies, but haven’t had any for many years. Maybe I’ll look for one or two at the nursery next month and try to find a place to tuck them. I’m not a true gardener, Penny; do you think I could coax one to survive if planted in a container? I’d never heard of a Chinese tree peony until I read about them here. Happy that the deer didn’t do major damage to yours. The blooms are breathtaking.
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I’m not sure about a container, Karen. The regular bush peonies actually die back over winter, sending their energies underground during. You could try them in a pot, covering the pot with leaves for the winter. These are the Chinese peonies and they are herbaceous, so lose their leaves and flowers, much like a lilac, but retain their woody stems all winter. They get rather large and can live form many, many years. I would try the regular peonies in a pot, maybe one, and see what happens.
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Thanks, Penny. I may do just that. I’m sure I can find a good sized “beginner” plant at one of the nearby Amish nurseries, and I have several pots to be re-done this year. It would be worth the price of one plant to have some pretty blooms like yours next year. The day lillies I planted last year, both those in the ground and one in a pot, have all more than doubled in size over this past winter! đŸ™‚
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Good luck, Karen. I’ll be interested in seeing what happens to them in the pot. We have hostas in pots and they’ve grown so much we will have to break the pot to get them out. I hadn’t thought to pot daylillies. Some need to be divided this year. I might just try that.
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They are such beautifully old fashioned blooms aren’t they. I remember two bushes in the garden I grew up with in London… no idea what they were called, one was deep red and one was pink and a bit “feathery” compared to the red. My mother was always very excited when they flowered. Your photos are beautiful…so glad the deer left them alone. Janice.
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They are evocative of an earlier era, aren’t they Janice? I understand your mother’s excitement as we wait so long for them to bloom and the blooming season is rather short. Between these tree peonies and the regular ones, we will have at least a month’s worth of blossoms to enjoy. Thank you.
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There is nothing common about those peonies! Wow! I think they’re just gorgeous. The Chinese tree peony is entirely unknown to me…but what wonderful blooms. I think if I knew that the cold was going to deliver such a beautiful spring flower perhaps I could endure all the snow. There is a reward! I’m glad the deer left some for you, Penny! Debra
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They were to me as well, Debra, until we moved here. The previous owners had planted these tree peonies and they were such a pleasant surprise that first spring we were here. We had so much snow and cold that year and they were one of the first gifts of spring in our new house. Now, I anxious wait and watch as the first leaves open and then the buds appear, until we have these spectacular blossoms.
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Oh your flowers are beautiful. I can almost smell them from here. I have only common peonies. They haven’t bloomed yet, but I have noticed some blooming in town. They are not, however, as spectacular as yours.
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Thank you, Janet. I love the common peonies as well. These are herbaceous and stay woody all winter, which I like for the snow. Our regular peonies are up and the buds are just starting to show. They aren’t as big as the tree peonies either, but so full and lovely when they bloom. If yours are already blooming in town, then we have another two weeks or so. Something to look forward to for sure. One of the nice things about the tree peonies is that they don’t need the ants to open them, so are good for inside bouquets. The bad thing is that they don’t last as long indoors. Enjoy this day.
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What a fitting title, and those tree penies are stunning! I am waiting for my peonies (I can’t bring myself to call them ‘common’), but they have a way to go still. I am grateful for your images in the meantime….
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Thank you, Teresa. My other peonies are just starting to show buds. A few more weeks here and then your turn up to you in MN. I have another type of peony called Laddie that is much smaller and the leaves are more fernlike. It opens in spring and then the whole plant dies back in summer. I just love peonies in any form and know you will enjoy yours as they come into bloom.
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What beautiful pictures, Penny…we have peonies. scarlet ones: they are budding but a long way from opening here. I agree: such glorious flowers at the very beginning of the growing season….
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Enjoy the slow progress of those scarlet beauties as those buds start to swell then open, Kate. Half the fun is the anticipation.
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The pictures are breathtaking and such a lovely gift to your readers. Your garden is such a delight.
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That is such a nice thing to say, Marilyn. Thank you so much. Spring is such a joy.
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Penny, your peonies are so beautiful. I have two tree peonies in the front of my house and I should be taking pictures! Thanks for sharing yours with us. The garden is a wonder this time of the year!
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Thank you, Sunday. I’ve got some of these to bring indoors, though they don’t last very long cut. I just can’t seem to help myself. You are very welcome.
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How beautiful! I haven’t seen any of these in our area. The regular ones used to be popular to take to the cemetery on Memorial Day. Since they are starting to bloom around here now they won’t make it this year even if the almost open buds are stored in the refrigerator!
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They are a treat for the senses, Joyce. These have, however, opened up way too early. The regular peonies we all know and love have buds that are starting to swell and won’t make it to Memorial Day here, either. As we’ve said before, strange weather is upon us. Enjoy while we can.
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Wow. They really are the most beautiful flowers. How intense are those colours! I would love a bunch xx
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They are pretty spectacular and still blooming. I wish I could share a bouquet with you.
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Sluuuuuuuuurp!!!!! I LOVE peonies. And, I live too far South to grow them. These are gorgeous. I had gigantic red peonies in my wedding bouquet, quite by accident. I let the florist pick the flowers. đŸ™‚
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Whether or not by accident, Andra, that must have been a magnificent bouquet to hold and behold. Florist’s pick. I like that. Peonies are one of our rewards for our cold winters.
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I literally told the florist to pick whatever she wanted and gave her my favorite color – red. She dropped her cigarillo on the floor in shock. I told her she was the florist. She ought to know what’s pretty better than me. She practically gave me the bouquet. đŸ™‚
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Andra, you are every florist’s dream, and I’m sure you made this florist’s year.
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Those really are blowing me away! Wow. We grew peonies in Oregon, but never had those marvelous colors. I’m so impressed. (Also we were lucky there if they were in bloom by Memorial Day.) Lovely post.
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They were here when we moved into this house, Sallie, and I’ve grown to love them more each year. These have bloomed a little early this year and the more common peonies look to bloom early as well. Thank you.
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