Two young things were the subjects of the first two flower portraits. So it’s exciting to turn to a more assured, mature beauty for our third. She is known formally as Paeonia Suffruticosa, but Peony is the name we are likely to recognize her by:
How lush, how full, how magnificent she is! Proud. Self-confident. And somewhat different from the herbaceous peonies that we grow in our flower borders. (At least to my eyes.) Paeonia Suffruticosa belongs to the family of tree peonies, tall hardy shrubs that are temperamental enough to suit a diva’s personality, but rewarding enough to be worth the effort.
And what a family history she has! Tree peonies already hundreds of years ago were considered the ideal flower by Chinese literati, the poets and painters of ancient times. She has been found for centuries “on vase and jar, on screen and fan” (to borrow from Gilbert & Sullivan’s Mikado). If there can be said to be a national flower of China, it is the tree peony, the pride and joy of many public gardens there. And the admiration and veneration of the Japanese doesn’t lag far behind.
When we visited famed Chanticleer Gardens in Wayne, PA, last summer, we were greeted at the entrance gates to the mansion itself by a whole tribe of tree peonies. I chose one among these gorgeous sisters for a close-up; but any and all of them were stunners:
When we lived in the Berkshires, I was a guide at one of the so-called “cottages,” actually mansions, from the Gilded Age. Naumkeag, the home of Joseph Choate and his family, has magnificent, unusual gardens. But in the two summers I worked there, the terrace of tree peonies never fully came into bloom, at least not for more than a couple of days, and sparsely. Conditions were never quite right — too cold, not cold enough; too much rain, too little rain. Perhaps because Chanticleer is farther South, perhaps because this was a particularly favorable late spring, tree peonies were bursting forth all around us, a deluge, a veritable waterfall of beauty.
I’m glad to have seen them.
My favourite flower.
LikeLike
I think you have a lot of company in that preference!
LikeLike
well, for a peony I’m prepared to be one of a crowd.
LikeLike
You’ll never just be part of a crowd, Mrs. C.!!!!!!
Star quality —-
LikeLike
Great picture. I tried to figure out which Paeonia Suffruticosa you actually photographed. Couldn’t.
When are we seeing you?
LikeLike
One out of all those lovelies? Oom-possible (as we used to say once upon a time).
I hope we get together soon! I’ll call —
LikeLike
Wow as far as I can remember I’ve only seen white tree peonies!
LikeLike
These were as you see, and on a grayish, mistyish day, the color really popped!
LikeLike
Proud and self-confident, that sounds right. Don’t think I’ve seen any peony like that. Gorgeous!
LikeLike
If I looked like that, I’d be proud and self-confident too!!!!
(well, in a human way, that is 😉
LikeLike
So enjoying this series…and learning!
LikeLike
Makes me so happy to hear that!
LikeLike
A diva, all right, all layered flounces and showiness. we don’t have such exotics here, making it all the more gorgeous to admire.
LikeLike
She wasn’t a “wild ‘un”, we had planted this diva, and oh, I loved her!
No poppies where we are now, none at all.
LikeLike
Such a beauty Judith! And beautifully captured. I have never seen a real Peony!
LikeLike
Next trip to Japan? China? Western Massachusetts?
😉
LikeLike
Tree peonies – my favorite ones! So pleased to see that you have one as well, dear Judith!
How gracious are these, I call them “my Chinese Beauties”.
***karin
LikeLike
A lovely name for lovely flowers.
But I have none of my own. I have a pot of geraniums in the back in summer, and some “volunteer” black-eyed susans (a kind of big wild-ish daisy) in the front border. Otherwise — I have to use “borrowed views.”
The tree peonies are from a trip to Pennsylvania, to a famous gardens. They were well worth the travel!
LikeLike