2023 January Tree Peony Growth

January Tree Peony Growth
Wow! A new year already? And the last day of the first month. Where does time go? The tree peonies keep time and have already begun their growth for the new year. I've been watching them all month go from fat buds into small shoots with buds! Although the weather is still cold-ish here (we have had quite a mild winter - 3rd warmest January on record), the tree peonies have begun their slow unfurling process - with some varieties farther along than others. Some types still remain in fat bud stage.

I am happy to see them greet me so early in the new year. Their blooms will be here by the end of March and beginning of April. So really they don't have much time left for those buds to fully mature, about a month and a half! Signs of spring will be here soon. Spring is coming!!!


January Tree Peony Growth

2022 American Peony Society Convention Artistic Design Category, Mom Wins 2 Blue Ribbons!!

2022 American Peony Society Convention Artistic Design Category
Mom Wins 2 Blue Ribbons!!
This year I actually was able to get my Mom to attend the American Peony Society Convention with me. I was also able to convince her to enter a few flower arrangements into the Artistic Design category of the show. She had never entered the APS Exhibition and Show ever (or even attended a convention before), but she actually won 2 blue 1st place ribbons!! I am so proud of her and the peony flower arrangement that she made!


2022 American Peony Society Convention Artistic Design Category
"Bonsai and Penjing Garden", Blue 1st Place Ribbon
She really seemed to enjoy herself. We went hunting for filler plant material at an APS Board Member's garden (with permission) and also whatever we could find on the side of the road!! It was quite the adventure, and she was thrilled to see the outcome of the judging!! She won a blue 1st place ribbon in Class 2 "Urban Pocket Garden, a blue 1st place ribbon in Class 5 "Bonsai and Penjing Garden", and a red 2nd place ribbon in Class 3 "Perennial Garden". Go Mom!!


2022 American Peony Society Convention Artistic Design Category
"Urban Pocket Garden", Blue 1st Place Ribbon

2022 American Peony Society Convention Artistic Design Category
"Perennial Garden", Red 2nd Place Ribbon

2022 American Peony Society Convention Exhibition Artistic Design Entries

2022 American Peony Society Artistic Design Entries

Inside the University of Michigan's Matthaei Botanical Garden's Auditorium, I think the Artistic Design entries got the best spot in the show, a beautiful spot right next to a wall of windows overlooking an outdoor patio surrounded by lush greenery! I should have taken a photo of the gorgeous peony arrangements from both ends of the Artistic Design table. In this shot, I got up close angles of the professional division, also known as the "Open Classes", Classes 6-11 this year.


Artistic Design Reserve Champion
Class 11 - "Helen V. Smith Woodland and Wildflower Garden"

Class 11 - "Helen V. Smith Woodland and Wildflower Garden"

Class 11 - "Helen V. Smith Woodland and Wildflower Garden"

Class 11 - "Helen V. Smith Woodland and Wildflower Garden"

Class 10 - "Sitting Garden"

Class 10 - "Sitting Garden"

Class 8 – "Marie Azary Rock Garden"

Class 8 – "Marie Azary Rock Garden"

Class 7 – "Gateway Garden of New World Plants"

Class 6 – "Great Lakes Garden"

Class 6 – "Great Lakes Garden"
The novice design classes where Classes 2-5 this year, with several first time entrants participating in the artistic design portion of the show. All of the designs in the show were so beautiful. I would take any of them home with me. If you've never tried your hand at entering the APS flower show, the artistic design category might be an easy way to get started! There was even a children's class this year, Class 1, open to people 16 or younger, which had good participation! I can't wait to try my design skills again at next year's APS Convention Exhibition!


Class 5 – "Bonsai and Penjing Garden"

Class 5 – "Bonsai and Penjing Garden"

Class 4 – "Medicinal Garden"

Class 4 – "Medicinal Garden"

Class 4 – "Medicinal Garden"

Class 3 – "Perennial Garden"

Artistic Design Novice Award
Class 3 – "Perennial Garden"

Class 2 – "Urban Pocket Garden"

Class 1 – "Gaffield Children's Garden"

2022 American Peony Society Exhibition Southern Peony Wins Artistic Design Novice Rosette Award

2022 American Peony Society Exhibition Artistic Design Award
Novice Class 3 "Perennial Garden"
After the judging is complete at the American Peony Society convention, all of the entrants are always excited to go see what if any ribbons they might have won. I was one of those people since I entered a few designs into the Novice category of the APS Artistic Design section of the Exhibition this year. I was thrilled to learn that not only had a won a couple ribbons on my designs, but I also won the highest award in the Novice category, the Artistic Design Novice Award!


2022 Southern Peony Wins Artistic Design Award
It looks like I actually won this "Novice Artistic Design" award before, in 2019 APS Convention Southern Peony Wins 3 Blue Ribbons in Artistic Division & First Rosette, but it looks like I wasn't awarded a Court of Honor for that Novice Artistic Design Award last time. I'm not sure if that was a mistake or they just started putting the Novice Design awards on the Court of Honor this year.


2022 American Peony Society Exhibition
Court of Honor, Artistic Design Novice Award
I was told, though, that this year they've changed the rules. Now anyone who has received a "Court of Honor" award must now compete in the professional division of that class going forward. It sounds like for any future exhibitions, I will be in the professional category for either flowers or artistic design! - since I've also placed on the Court of Honor 1 time in the cut flower division, 2015 APS Southern Peony Court of Honor Winner - 'Keiko'. That's a little scary when you know you have to compete with the likes of professional growers (in the cut flower competition) and professional flower arrangers (in the artistic design category).


2022 American Peony Society Exhibition
Court of Honor

2022 American Peony Society Convention Flower Exhibition Seedlings

2022 American Peony Society Convention Flower Exhibition Seedlings
For the last few conventions at least, the Seedling category of the American Peony Society Flower Exhibition Seedling class has been judged by Don Hollingsworth (loves early double herbaceous) and Nate Bremer (loves tree peonies). You can check out my interviews with each of them on our Southern Peony Hybridizers page. This year did not change that judging practice, as they both judged the Seedling class again this year as well.


2022 American Peony Society Convention Flower Exhibition Seedlings
It seems like the Seedling judges really favored the anemone style peonies this year, and a couple of double or mostly double herbceous varieties. There were so many beautiful tree peony varieties on the Seedling table this year, but I'm not sure why none of them were awarded a pink Certificate of Merit ribbon. I guess they didn't meet the standards or bring anything new into the range.

Seedling entries in the APS Exhibition are not ranked with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons like the other show flowers. If they are deemed worthy, they are instead awarded a pink "Certificate of Merit" ribbon by the judges. It looks like this year Tim Stanek of Iowa took home lots of pink ribbons and almost swept the category!! Congrats, Tim! Check out this year's winning flowers below...

Peony "Crm #1" Tim Stanek

Peony "SPECKS" Tim Stanek

Peony "H3521" Don Hollingsworth

Peony "PK OR JP" Tim Stanek

Peony "ODD LACTI" Tim Stanek

Peony "DRK PK JP" Tim Stanek