Monday, May 6, 2019

2019 Peony 'Festiva Maxima' First Bouquet of the Season


Peony 'Festiva Maxima'

I couldn't help but pick these last week when I arrived home one day. They were spilling over into my driveway, and I really didn't want to run into them. I'm so glad I brought them inside. They perfumed the entire downstairs of my house for days. If you don't grow Peony 'Festiva Maxima', you really should. This peony blooms like crazy with over 100 blooms on each of the plants planted by my mailbox. I have divided this peony several times, given several roots to friends and family, and it just keeps coming back even bigger! It grows like a weed down here, and it smells so lovely, with a sweet rose-like scent. If you do grow it, don't forget to bring a few indoors to enjoy their beauty and perfume inside!


Peony 'Festiva Maxima'


Sunday, May 5, 2019

2019 Intersectional Peony Blooms Late Mid Week 5

Is it bad to say that I'm already looking forward to next year? I know, I know. I still have a few buds that haven't opened yet, and several late herbaceous peonies to look forward to, but I must say I really am going to miss all of these peony blooms, especially these colorful intersectional peonies. I feel like there's a rainbow in my garden when these peonies are in bloom! Intersectional Peony 'Mock Orange Yellow' open for the first time for me this year, and I love the orange color! Sometimes you can find a delicate pinkish bloom on Intersectional Peony 'Old Rose Dandy', and this is a good example of one. Intersectional Peony 'Cora Louise' is always a great plant with its standout white blooms and purple tinted base. Intersectional Peony 'Pastel Splendor' has so many colors in the bloom and is very interesting to look at. Sometimes the blooms on Intersectional Peony 'Little Darlin'' are wild and crazy and sometimes they're neat and orderly. This one is the "neat and orderly" variety, but the color is what draws you in! Intersectional Peony 'Lunar Glow' which bloomed for the first time for me this year has a soft yellow color and very soft rounded petals. Intersectional Peony 'Luxuriant' also opened for the first time for me this year having good substance and symmetry.


Intersectional Peony 'Mock Orange Yellow'


Intersectional Peony 'Old Rose Dandy'


Intersectional Peony 'Cora Louise'


Intersectional Peony 'Pastel Splendor'


Intersectional Peony 'Little Darlin''


Intersectional Peony 'Lunar Glow'


Intersectional Peony 'Luxuriant'


Saturday, May 4, 2019

2019 Peony Blooms Late Mid Week 5

I think the bulk of the blooms are winding down now. Week 4 and Week 5 are pretty much the biggest weeks for bloom here. It has been a really nice show this year, but I am taking notes on what I need to improve for next year. I feel very lucky to have the Peony 'Etched Salmon' planted right next to one of my garden benches, as it is so lovely and symmetrical and just beautiful to view up close. I was really impressed with the substance and long-lasting color of Peony 'Red Red Rose'. Peony 'Raspberry Clown' never fails to delight with its multi-colored blossoms. Peony 'Gilbert Barthelot' is a stupendous plant and always loaded with blooms. Peony 'Perfect Princess' gets even more perfect every year. I have it planted right next to my front door to greet people on the way in. Peony 'Pink Derby' has a whopper of a bloom, and Peony 'Carolina Moon' is a cute flattish white and yellow combo peony. I hope you are enjoying your bloom season as much as I am!


Peony 'Etched Salmon'


Peony 'Red Red Rose'


Peony 'Raspberry Clown'


Peony 'Gilbert Barthelot'


Peony 'Perfect Princess'


Peony 'Pink Derby'


Peony 'Carolina Moon'

Thursday, May 2, 2019

2019 360° View of Intersectional Peony 'Keiko' 愛幕 (Adored) - 'Pink Double Dandy'

This peony, 'Keiko' 愛幕 (Adored) aka 'Pink Double Dandy', is always one of my Best Performers. This intersectional peony plant just had so many pretty, pink flowers on it, that every side was covered. So I decided to take this series of photos showing the peony blooms on every side of the bush. There are just so many flowers on this plant, that there was not one side that wasn't covered. If you're not yet convinced that this peony, Peony 'Keiko' (Adored) Best Performer is one of the best intersectional peonies out there, then perhaps this will convince you...















360° View of Intersectional Peony 'Keiko' 愛幕 (Adored)
'Pink Double Dandy'

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

2019 Peony 'Watermelon Wine' Best Performer - Week 4

I must say there is something about Peony 'Watermelon Wine' that really calls you from across the garden. I think it may be the vibrant hot pink color, the way it holds its blooms high above the plant, did I mention the enchanting color? Intersectional Peony 'Watermelon Wine' was hybridized by Roger Anderson and registered in 1999. This plant has grown really well every year in my garden since I've gotten it. Of course it came to me as a really huge root, so it had a great starting point. I can't wait to see how it continues to grow and bloom! There are a couple of peony growers offering this intersectional peony for sale this year. Check out our 2019 Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List for availability and prices. This brazen beauty is very vigorous, quite a tall plant, and flowers reliably, and has HOT PINK flowers (a rare color for intersectional peonies these days).


Intersectional Peony 'Watermelon Wine'
Southern Peony Best Performer


Intersectional Peony 'Watermelon Wine'
Southern Peony Best Performer


Intersectional Peony 'Watermelon Wine'
Southern Peony Best Performer