2015 Late Spring Peony Root Order

I finally got my first peony order of the year in yesterday. I was planning to place my order with Solaris Farms. I had been waiting to place my order until now because I had other large expense in previous months like new tires for my car, a trip to the 2015 American Peony Society Convention in Kentucky, etc. Anyway I guess I waited too late in the year because one of the peonies I wanted to order from Solaris Farms was already sold out for 2015, Peony 'Sonoma Velvet Ruby'. I really want to order this peony because the red color is nice, but another reason is because I am looking for a red intersectional whose foliage doesn't get brown spots on it very early in the season. Both of my other red intersectional peonies, Peony 'Scarlet Heaven' and Peony 'Lafayette Escadrille' get the Intersectional Peony Fungal Disease Peony Blotch on them. So I'm hoping Peony 'Sonoma Velvet Ruby' will have different enough genetics that perhaps it won't get this disease.
2015 Peony Order - 3 Intersectional Peonies
Peonies 'First Arrival', 'Sonoma Velvet Ruby', and 'Smith Family Yellow'
from Adelman Peony Gardens
I'm sure it is no surprise that all three of the peonies I ordered this year were intersectional peonies. I ended up placing my peony order this year with Peony Paradise, Adelman Peony Gardens this year. Their prices were a little higher than Solaris Farms for both Peony 'First Arrival' and Peony 'Sonoma Velvet Ruby', 2015 Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List. However they did have a peony I've been really wanting called Peony 'Smith's Family Yellow' since 2013. I was hoping they price would drop a bit, but it hasn't yet, and I'm tired of waiting! The other peony I ordered, Peony 'First Arrival', I already have, but it is mislabeled. I ordered it from some other non-peony grower, and I got Peony 'Bartzella' instead! So now I should get the real thing. :-)

2015 APS Convention Met Peony Hybridizer Don Smith

One of the most exciting things about the APS Convention this year was having the opportunity to meet Don Smith, the American intersectional peony hybridizer. Speaking with him was like listening to a peony prophet. I felt like I was just trying to absorb as much knowledge as I could in such a short period of time. He was a really nice guy and willing to share the boring (to some, but not to me) details of hybridizing from how he collects, stores, and transports his pollen, to how he puts the pollen on the carpels, to how he labels his peony seed pods, to how he starts all of his seeds indoors. Wow. I was amazed not only by the wealth of hybridizing knowledge and experience this man possesses, but also by his openness and generosity of spirit. I hope to meet him again one day.
Me and American Intersectional Peony Hybridizer Don Smith
I think he was happily surprised to meet me since I grow several of his intersectional peonies and also brought some of them to the APS Convention Exhibition. I even won ribbons for a couple of them, American Peony Society Southern Peony Winners. I won a 2nd place ribbon for a set of three blooms of his Peony 'Keiko' 愛幕 (Adored) - 'Pink Double Dandy' and an Honorable Mention award for a single blooms of his Peony Takara 慈悲 (Treasure) - Smith Opus 2. However I think what amazed him the most and made him most proud was the Court of Honor ribbon I won for a single bloom of his Peony 'Keiko' 愛幕 (Adored) - 'Pink Double Dandy', APS Southern Peony Court of Honor Winner - 'Keiko'. It amazed me too! :-)

2015 Peony Companion Plants Amaryllis

Pink Peony with Red Amaryllis
I couldn't resist taking a photo of this early amaryllis and late peony blooming together. The bright pink peony was fading just as the pinky red amaryllis was opening, and they looked so gorgeous together. Amaryllis are usually hardy in growing zones 7-10. So Southern gardeners in particular can delight in naturalizing these bulbs with their peonies. If you're looking for a special bulb with enough size and height to plant between your peonies, take a closer look at Amaryllis. Their form and substance are strong and tall enough to compliment peonies without overpowering them. Also there are so many colors and forms of amaryllis to choose from these days, including reds, pinks, whites, and multicolored as well as single and double flower form varieties.
Red Amaryllis with Green Peony Foliage

2015 APS Convention Peonies in Fiestaware Vases

Fiestaware Vase filled with Peonies
If there was one thing I can't stop thinking about from the American Peony Society Convention, it is the peonies in the Fiestaware vases that decorated the tables at the APS Banquet. Thanks to Mike Miller and his wife who brought their collection of gorgeous Feista Ware vases, all of the same pattern, but in a beautiful range of hues to decorate the tables at the banquet. They did an awesome job dressing up the room, and these Fiestaware vases were one of the first things I noticed as soon as I entered the banquet room. I asked them if the vases were up for auction, and they politely replied no. I guess I will just have to hunt down for one myself. :-)

2015 American Peony Society Yew Dell Gardens Tour

During the American Peony Society Convention and on the morning of our first tour day, we went on the American Peony Society Whitehall Mansion Tour of its house and gardens. In the afternoon we toured the Yew Dell Botanical Gardens. They had a very nice barn that was designed by an architect and housed their gift shop right at their main entrance, which is where they gave the intro to our tour.

Yew Dell Tour Guide and American Peony Society Members
Yew Dell Entrance Barn and Gift Shop
However before we even got off our tour buses and entered the Yew Dell barn, we noticed a group planting of yellow Itoh peonies. Also upon our exit from the barn we found another group planting of the same yellow intersectionals. They turned out to be the Peony 'Garden Treasure' that Don Hollingsworth had donated to Yew Dell a couple years before. They made such a lovely display, and really dressed up the entrance to Yew Dell. Everyone clamored to get a photo of Don Hollingsworth and his gorgeous Peony 'Garden Treasure'.

Don Hollingsworth and Peony 'Garden Treasure'
The tour of Yew Dell included a look at their display gardens, kitchen garden, fountain garden, shade garden, rooftop garden, greenhouses, and of course their castle. The tour was quick and we had lunch in the garden shortly afterwards. It seems I could have spent a couple more hours exploring the gardens here, but I used my bit of free time during lunch to chat with other APS members. After lunch one bus load of people went back to the Galt House Hotel, and those who chose to stay participated in the ALM training program part two.
APS Members at the Yew Dell Castle