Showing posts tagged Peonies
The First Galeazza Peony of 2012… this bloom is from the same plant I added to the garden eight years ago. I’m not a big flower gardener, but peonies are worth making an exception! View high resolution

The First Galeazza Peony of 2012… this bloom is from the same plant I added to the garden eight years ago. I’m not a big flower gardener, but peonies are worth making an exception!

A peony bud getting a good licking from ants… a few days more and they will be open. Stachys byzantina is the grey plant below. Thank you, lovely neighbour Carla Paltrinieri, for this beautiful plant! View high resolution

A peony bud getting a good licking from ants… a few days more and they will be open. Stachys byzantina is the grey plant below.

Thank you, lovely neighbour Carla Paltrinieri, for this beautiful plant!

What’s up with the box in the middle? A fundamental aspect of all great Japanese gardens is that they are based on a strong composition that is well balanced but never symmetrical. Then today I meet this mystery patch in a sub-temple of Myoshinji Temple. Hmmm. Let’s see. Tree peonies (dead looking, but it is November, after all) in a straight line planted in the middle of a long rectangular box of stone (granite, I think) plopped almost but not quite in the middle if a long, rectangular courtyard of gravel. I have never seen anything like it in this country. I know rules were meant to be broken - or at least tested by the great masters of any art, but does this composition work? No, sorry, it doesn’t. View high resolution

What’s up with the box in the middle?

A fundamental aspect of all great Japanese gardens is that they are based on a strong composition that is well balanced but never symmetrical. Then today I meet this mystery patch in a sub-temple of Myoshinji Temple. Hmmm. Let’s see. Tree peonies (dead looking, but it is November, after all) in a straight line planted in the middle of a long rectangular box of stone (granite, I think) plopped almost but not quite in the middle if a long, rectangular courtyard of gravel. I have never seen anything like it in this country.

I know rules were meant to be broken - or at least tested by the great masters of any art, but does this composition work? No, sorry, it doesn’t.

Paeonia lactifolia (Chinese Peony) Name of this variety to follow. This plant was a gift from one of my favourite neighbours, Carla. If you would like to know something about these flowers, click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paeonia_lactiflora I normally don’t like huge flowers. The big blooms of our  four Magnolia grandiflora trees, certain alliums, and these peonies are three exceptions. And a few lines about colour… You’re right for thinking this is unusually dark for the front garden, but it isn’t a “hot” red, so it looks just fine with all of the other plants, especially the silvers. It definitely is singing loudly to be noticed, but with such a beautiful voice it’s not a problem… and the scent! View high resolution

Paeonia lactifolia (Chinese Peony) Name of this variety to follow.

This plant was a gift from one of my favourite neighbours, Carla.

If you would like to know something about these flowers, click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paeonia_lactiflora

I normally don’t like huge flowers. The big blooms of our  four Magnolia grandiflora trees, certain alliums, and these peonies are three exceptions. And a few lines about colour… You’re right for thinking this is unusually dark for the front garden, but it isn’t a “hot” red, so it looks just fine with all of the other plants, especially the silvers. It definitely is singing loudly to be noticed, but with such a beautiful voice it’s not a problem…

and the scent!

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’. Peonies, gorgeous peonies. One of the only really big flowers that I love. It’s everything about them - how they feel and smell as much if not more than how they look.  And when they’re in a tall vase on a table and the first few petals drop… I’d chop the figers off of anyone who touches them if there are only a few and they’re freshly fallen… those first few petals on the table. God! View high resolution

Paeonia lactiflora ‘Sarah Bernhardt’. Peonies, gorgeous peonies. One of the only really big flowers that I love. It’s everything about them - how they feel and smell as much if not more than how they look.  And when they’re in a tall vase on a table and the first few petals drop… I’d chop the figers off of anyone who touches them if there are only a few and they’re freshly fallen… those first few petals on the table. God!