The First Peony - 'Shima-Nishiki'
The Tree Peony 'Shima-Nishiki' is the first to bloom. The name means "fire flame" in Japanese, an apt title to describe the red blooms striped with white. Occasionally, there are solid red blooms. Every year this peony gets better and seemingly overnight, the puny-looking bare branches are suddenly fleshed out with a tremendous profusion of leaves. The bush is dense, forming a 4 ft. mound. Our plant resides at the top of one of the terrace beds in back where it gets some morning sun and dappled sun (mostly shade) for the remainder of the day. We have many peonies in the garden and they all came from Adelman Peony Gardens in Salem, Oregon. It is worth a drive just to see their beautiful display garden in May. Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy
What lucious color. I have always wanted to see a spectacle like this.
ReplyDeleteWe went to the Skagit Valley Tulip festival last weekend (north of Seattle). The dates for the festival are firm even if the weather changes the dates of the floral display--nevertheless, it was peak festival timing. Luckily, we wanted to do other things in the area, anyway. When we got there, the tulips had been "topped" to prevent rain going down the stem and spoiling the bulb. So, if you miss the peak show, it's not like you'll still have plenty of slightly overblown flowers to look at...they level the fields...there's nothing but bare soil! Glad you were able to appreciate a beautiful floral display.
ReplyDeleteOh my! Now I'm a fan of the Holland Michigan Tulip Festival, and I'm going there in a few weeks. But this makes that one look wimpy! Lovely Philip, I'm sure you enjoyed it. Your photos are great!
ReplyDeleteWhat a glorious array of tulips, Phillip! We are expecting a major storm this weekend so I spent some time today gazing at my paltry few before they are squashed by snow. I'm enjoying catching up on your blog since your move. A fresh palette - exciting!
ReplyDeleteWow. I did not know such sights existed outside of the Netherlands! Great shots, Phillip :)
ReplyDeleteI love seeing the tulip fields in all of their glory! I'm glad you got to see this and even happier that you shared your great shots with us! Did you get a catalog? Did you select bulbs to order for this fall?
ReplyDeleteNo, every mailbox we tried was empty!
DeleteI love seeing the tulip fields in all of their glory! I'm glad you got to see this and even happier that you shared your great shots with us! Did you get a catalog? Did you select bulbs to order for this fall?
ReplyDeleteThis looks over-the-top, but in the best way. What an opportunity, and what good photos.
ReplyDeletewow!!!! what a beautiful display!
ReplyDeleteWOW! I would have thought you were in Holland; fantastic that this is in Oregon! I guess this means you can grow tulips there. I am jealous, as tulips wimp out after only a year or two in my garden.
ReplyDeleteWow! At first I thought you might have gone to Holland!!!
ReplyDeleteSo spectacular! Looks just like Holland!
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