26 March 2011
In my New England perennial garden I had a number of peonies, given to me by a friend when her garden plans changed. The appearance of the luscious blooms in June signaled the start of summer. The fragrance of peonies is rivaled only by roses. That peonies flourish in places like Massachusetts, Minnesota and Michigan make them all the more deserving of praise.
Moving to San Diego twenty years ago meant leaving behind many perennial garden treasures, including my herbaceous peonies. My sister, Katie who lives in Oregon, knew my love of peonies and went to a nearby peony farm. The nurseryman suggested a tree peony, possibly suitable for Sunset zone 24. The homely bareroot specimen, simply labeled “cherry,” arrived in the mail our first fall in San Diego and was carefully planted.
This tree peony, now in my vegetable garden stands about three feet high. Today I counted twenty flowers and buds on the plant, each of which will open by day to about eight inches and close as the sun sets. Though my tree peony has many virtues, fragrance is not one of them. Longing for the peony experience, in May one year, I drove to Santa Ysabel, up in the mountains to wander the edge of an herbaceous peony field with my camera and to drink deeply of the fragrance. A photo I took that day of a red peony remains in my living room. It reminds me of my first love.
The tree peony from my sister thrives between the rhubarb and the strawberries in my edible garden. It was to be a temporary relocation when we remodeled our home. But, I like it right where it is. Every vegetable garden needs some flowers. And gardens are also about memories.
Read more about tree peonies. Source for tree peonies in Oregon, even some with fragrance.
