My grandfather, Al Retelle, was well known for his broad knowledge of trees, plants and flowers. A graduate of Stockbridge at UMass, he devoted the greater part of his life to tree and plant health care through Retelle Tree, Maudslay State Park, and in most recent years, his gardens on Reservation Road. To honor him I plan to start posting mini profiles such as this one, which will feature trees, plants and flowers that we are inspired by. The peony is one of my absolute favorites, and every spring he would tell me to hurry over to his house to pick a few.
The peony's botanical name is Paeonia and there are over 100 different varieties. Ranging in color from red, pink, white to yellow, the peony is a perennial, which has lush foliage throughout the summer and fluffy, fragrant blooms in spring. They are beautiful as cut flowers in arrangements and bouquets, making them one of the most popular flowers for weddings and events. For arrangements, select buds that are fairly tight and colorful and they should last in water for up to 5-7 days.
Although pricey when purchased as single stems, peony bulbs grow well in our region and the Farmer's Almanac has a quick summary of planting tips which you can check out here. Unfortunately my grandfather is no longer with us to share his knowledge, but his peonies (pictured below) are stunning. I can't wait for spring to arrive so I can see them up close once again.
This red variety is a Chinese tree peony.
Historically, peonies have been depicted as a symbol of peace, love and good fortune in Chinese art.
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY
xo Lindsey
Lovely! Made me look forward to peony season, too. One thing the pictures don't show is how BIG the blooms are--simple stunning.
ReplyDelete