Garden History
PASSION FOR PEONIES & MOMS AT LAN SU GARDEN China is the ancestral home of Paeonia lactiflora the most extensively cultivated peony species in the world. Herbaceous peonies originally called Shoyao translate to both charming & beautiful and wealthy & honorable. Tree peonies are known by many names, including Hwa Wang ‐‐ the king of flowers. Bring your charming & beautiful Mom to the most authentic Chinese Garden in North America to experience the king of all flowers. You will be rewarded with wealth & honor! May 8 & 9 – Indulgence for Mom & Activities for the Whole Family Make Mom a stenciled peony work of art (11am to 2pm). Treat her to peony tea in the Teahouse (all day). Enjoy traditional Chinese music performed by the Children’s Ensemble (Sunday only‐11am to 1pm). Meet the expert on Chinese tree peonies (1pm to 3pm). Buy her a cut peony to remind her of you. Every Tuesday at 3pm in May – Peony Walk with Lan Su Horticultural Staff Every Tuesday & Sunday 11am to 2pm in May‐ Peony & Botanical Stenciling May 8‐19 – Chinese Tree Peony Showcase Courtesy of Brothers Herbs & Peonies Discover the history and the cultural significance of tree peonies; plus how to grow and tend them. Tree peonies, not often found at local nurseries, will be available for sale; a proceed going to support the Garden. Meet the expert on May 8 & 9 May 20‐31 – Herbaceous Peony Showcase Courtesy of Adelman Peony Garden This is all about the much‐loved herbaceous peony and a chance to add a new variety to your garden from the grower recognized by the American Peony Society as “Best of Show”. Meet the expert on May 22 & 23 May 27‐ Bring 3 Get in Free! Bring 3 peonies from your garden to be displayed in Lan Su Garden and receive a complimentary admission ticket to Lan Su. May 28‐31 ‐ Northwest Peony Society’s Finest Peony Flowers on Display All events free with admission. More information, schedule & admission is available at www.lansugarden.org Lan Su Chinese Garden is one of Portland’s greatest treasures—a powerfully inspiring experience that takes you through time, offering a […]
Tree Peony Festival of Flowers at Linwood Gardens May 22 and 23; May 29, 30, and 31; and June 5 and 6 The warm weather this year is accelerating flower bud development. Updates on blooming and dates for viewing the flowers will be posted at the following website:LinwoodGardens.org Open to the public 9 am to […]
One of the earliest accounts of tree peonies was written by Ou-yang Hisu (1007-1072) and is titled “Record of the Tree Peonies of Loyang.” In this account Hisu says “as for the tree peony, this has no name but is merely referred to as ‘flower,’ meaning that in the empire the tree peony is the […]
Peonies do best where there is a very cold winter like Wisconsin and Vermont. Move peonies in the fall, preferably in September. At the conclusion of a slide presentation extolling the virtues of various tree and herbaceous peonies, she surprised us. Her new found love is the Itoh peony, a cross between the tree […]
David Culp, grower, gardener, and soon to be author spoke at Ladew Topiary Garden in Monkon, Maryland during the Garden Festival this May. His historical overview of garden styles showed the formality of Versailles to the English picturesque style of nature. Williamsburg, Mr. Culp noted, had a great influence on American gardening. “Now the clipped […]
The American Impressionists in the Garden, currently on view at Cheekwood’s Museum of Art, includes a very large painting in the entrance gallery that holds every visitor’s attention. Edmund Tarbell’s In the Orchard (1891) has all the formal elements of a true impressionist painting: vibrant light, animated brushwork, and the casual atmosphere of a leisurely spent […]
