Our Tree Peony is in bloom. A number of the double, soft pink blossoms have opened in recent days. It is the small shrub just to the south west of the front of the farmhouse.
Peonies are one of humans oldest cultivated plants in the non-food category. Ancient Japanese & Chinese texts from 500 AD refer to peonies long established use in gardens and medicine. Named for Paeon, a mythical physician.
"Tree" peonies are poorly named, because they are more like shrubs than trees. Rather slow growing, ours is at least 25 years old, probably much more. It has responded well to a bit of care. The Chinese Garden here in Portland has a Tree Peony Show and Sale on Mother's Day.
The much more common relative, the herbaceous peony, dies to the ground every winter, to regrow anew every spring, while the tree peony develops woody stems that survive from year to year.
Enjoy it now, for it is a fleeting beauty. The individual blossoms don't last more than 4-5 days especially in the full sun.
"Tree" peonies are poorly named, because they are more like shrubs than trees. Rather slow growing, ours is at least 25 years old, probably much more. It has responded well to a bit of care. The Chinese Garden here in Portland has a Tree Peony Show and Sale on Mother's Day.
The much more common relative, the herbaceous peony, dies to the ground every winter, to regrow anew every spring, while the tree peony develops woody stems that survive from year to year.
Enjoy it now, for it is a fleeting beauty. The individual blossoms don't last more than 4-5 days especially in the full sun.
In the lower left, you can see the blooms of the peony soaking up the sun. Thank you to John for this garden note.
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