Tuesday, May 29, 2018

2018 American Peony Society Convention Tours Sebright Gardens

Sebright Gardens
American Peony Society 2018 Convention Tour
I missed the first day's activities for the American Peony Society Annual Convention due to a cancelled flight. So my first activity during the 2018 Convention was the first tour bus stop on Thursday morning. We went to visit Sebright Gardens in Salem, Oregon. Their web site says they specialize in hostas and ferns, but they seemed to have a fair number of iris too (and a few peonies tucked here and there). They had a long greenhouse full of an assortment of plants that I tried not to look in, since I was trying not to have to ship any potted plants home. I'm sure I would have come away with a wheelbarrow full if I was driving home! They offered complimentary coffee and cookies for the APS members on the tour which was quite nice.

Sebright Gardens Iris Field
I believe the tours were self guided here, and most APS members found their way around the place on tiny gravel paths meandering here and there. There was a wide array of plants being grown in their garden as well, with many beautiful varieties in bloom at the time of our tour. You could find roses, clematises, peonies, irises, rhododendrons, poppies, lilies, and much more. The best part about this garden, though, I have to say were the beautiful white peacocks at the bottom of the hill. Although they were encased in an ugly assortment of wood and metal, their beauty could not be bound by their cage. They were just gorgeous. What a wonderful tour indeed. :-)

White Peacock at Sebright Gardens

Wednesday, May 23, 2018

2018 American Peony Society Convention in Portland, Oregon

Well, it's that time of year, time for the annual American Peony Society Convention, hosted this year in Portland, Oregon by the Pacific Northwest Peony Society. I can't wait to see what they've cooked up for us. I'm sure this is going to be a stellar convention since two of our awesome board members belong to the Pacific Northwest Peony Society. I am eager to see what Oregon is all about since I've never visited their state before. I've heard the peonies grow pretty large there and the weather is nice (unlike my current locale - San Francisco).

2018 American Peony Society Convention in Portland, Oregon
My connecting flight seems to have been cancelled due to "fog". I don't think I've ever had a flight cancelled for this reason before, but I guess it gives me enough time to write this quick update for everyone. I've been re-booked on two more flights now. Let's see if these are successful. Let's hope so. Due to this delay it seems I will miss the welcome dinner and silent auction. I hope everyone else is able to attend, enjoy a nice meal, and hopefully find a few things to bid on. Have fun!!!

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

2018 Peony Blooms - Week 6 Late

Well, with pretty much 2 weeks of no rain, and now the temperatures are starting to rise into the 90s, the peonies are finishing their season up fast. I don't think we'll have any new varieties opening in week 7 this year. Everything got condensed at the end due to the hot weather and lack of rain. We'll still have some side buds opening next week, but it will most likely be the end of our peony season here. There were still some very lovely blooms that opened this week, though. Peony 'Sorbet' and Peony 'Karl Rosenfield' are both old standbys that are very nice. Peony 'Douglas Brand' opened for the first time for me this year. He was not quite as 'red' as I expected him to be, but still a lovely shade of dark pink. Peony 'Prince of Darkness' bloomed for me for the first time in a long time, if ever. After growing him for almost 10 years, I finally moved him to a better location 2 years ago, and I love the dark purple pink color of his blooms! Peony 'Perfect Princess' bloomed for me for the first time this year as well. She is a recent acquisition and new introduction from Khlem's Song Sparre, and I must say I am really impressed so far. She does seem to need a bit of support, but with only 2 stems she was loaded with 7 huge blooms! Peony 'Myra MacRae' is one of our Southern Peony Best Performers. Peony 'Candy Stripe' really came into its own this year. A lovely striped bloom, with such a rounded, symmetrical form, very nice! Peony 'Vivid Rose' is getting larger each year in it's new location, and the blooms are so lovely and mesmerizing, I just couldn't stop tacking pictures of them!

Peony 'Sorbet'

Peony 'Douglas Brand'

Peony 'Prince of Darkness'

Peony 'Karl Rosenfield'

Peony 'Perfect Princess'

Peony 'Myra MacRae'

Peony 'Candy Stripe'

Peony 'Vivid Rose'

Monday, May 14, 2018

Happy Birthday! Peony Hybridizer Don Hollingsworth Turns 90!

Look Who's 90
Please join us as we celebrate DON HOLLINGSWORTH
So this happened! The birthday celebration took place was while I was on my trip to China, and a it's a bit of a hike from my neck of the woods anyway. So unfortunately I was not able to attend, but I wanted to wish Don a very Happy Birthday and share this awesome milestone with all of you in case you'd like to send him birthday greetings as well. Don is a person I admire for many reasons, his willingness to share his knowledge, his lifetime commitment to peonies and the American Peony Society, and his awesome longevity just to name a few. He is really an upstanding young man, and I can't wait to see what he has yet to accomplish. Happy (Belated) Birthday, Don!

Friday, May 11, 2018

2018 Intersectional Peony Blooms - Week 5 Late Mid

This was another full week of blooms for the intersectional peonies. Intersectional Peony 'Misaka' 美 (Beautiful Blossom) is always such a lovely shade of peach when it opens. I love the purple streaks in Intersectional Peony 'Lemon Dream' that make it so unique. Intersectional Peony 'Sugar Plum Fairy' bloomed for me the first time this year. Intersectional Peony 'Prairie Charm' has such a lovely form, and Intersectional Peony 'Sonoma Rosy Future' has quite a unique color of pink for an intersectional. Intersectional Peonies 'Cora Louise' and 'Garden Treasure' are both reliable garden stalwarts.