Peony: The Best Varieties for Your Garden($29.95Value)

Description

“A luscious and colorful immersion into the world of the peony.” — Petal Talk The bold blooms, pretty colors, and heady fragrances of peonies make them one of the most popular flowers, both in gardens and floral arrangements. Peony —by leading experts David Michener and Carol Adelman—makes it easier than ever to grow them home. This lush book shares the history of the plant, explores the different types available, and includes complete growing information for 194 of the best varieties. Helpful lists detail the best peonies for specific needs. “Gardeners who already know and love peonies will find use in this book, as will those just getting started.” — Booklist “Whether you are already a peony lover or curious to learn more about this garden favorite, Peony is chock full of useful information and recommended varieties.” — NYBG’s Plant Talk​ “A great introduction for gardeners interested in growing peonies and a guide for experienced growers looking for newer varieties to add to their collections.” — Library Journal “If you grow peonies, this book is a wonderful resource. If you don’t grow peonies, reading this book will have you considering where you might plant these showy beautifies.” — The Gardener for Canadian Climates “The popular peony is championed in this new book, aptly named alter the beautiful, colour-rich bloom. Authors David C. Michener and Carol A. Adelman highlight the best varieties for your garden accompanied by stunning photography throughout.” — Period Living “ Peony makes it easier than ever to grow at home.” — The Michigan Gardener “Authors David Michener and Carol Adelman combine their expertise to create a luscious and colorful immersion into the world of the peony.” — Petal Talk “Readers are sure to become peony enthusiasts.” — Green Bay Press Gazette “It would be worth borrowing this book just for the photography alone.” — The Sudbury Star Beloved for their lush blooms and captivating fragrance, peonies are also easy to grow, adaptable to many garden styles, and available in a palette of luscious colors. Peony experts David Michener and Carol Adelman share detailed information on nearly 200 varieties and knowledgeable advice on your best choices. Along the way, you’ll discover a little peony history, obtain important growing tips, and learn recommended places to buy plants. David C. Michener is an associate curator at the University of Michigan, including the Peony Garden at the Nichols Arboretum, where he oversees the rejuvenation of the largest public collection of historic herbaceous peonies in North America.  Carol A. Adelman is the founder of Peony Paradise–Adelman Peony Gardens near Salem, Oregon. She and her husband grow 484 varieties of peonies. Carol is on the board of directors for the American Peony Society, is the president of the Pacific North West Peony Society, and is the charter organizer of the Salem Hardy Plant Society.   Introduction Peonies are stunningly beautiful, easy to grow, relatively carefree, and adaptable to any garden style. They are a favorite flower everywhere they can be grown and for good reason: the heady fragrances and enchanting colors of a peony-rich garden can evoke memories, capture an enchanted moment, and represent hope, friendship, romance, or gracious hospitality. Wherever winters are cold enough for peonies, gardeners have grown plants that have been shared with them or passed down among generations as treasured living family heirlooms. With their colors, fragrances, and forms, the cut flowers combine well in bouquets. Peonies simply have no rival in their season. Peonies blossom in a wide variety of colors and shapes. Their color range encompasses every tint from pure white through myriad pinks to the deepest reds and rich, complex chocolate tones. Almost every shade is represented except for blue and black, though now some blossoms approach those shades, as with the dazzling deep lavenders of ‘Lavender Hill’ and ‘Sonoma Amethyst’. To add to the fun and depending on the cultivar, individual peony flowers may retain the same color from start to finish, or they may begin as one color and either fade or darken to another related color. Some selections are bicolored, and, more rarely seen, tricolored. Contemporary breeders are even providing gardeners with new striped peonies such as ‘Candy Stripe’—truly distinctive treasures. The individual flower shapes, which are called forms, can be as simple as a wild rose or so petal-stuffed that it is hard to imagine how all the petals ever fit in the bud, with many variations in between. A bouquet of peonies, or even a single stem, can enhance any occasion. For floral designers, these blossoms offer much variation in visual texture and form, with petal edges that can be smooth, ruffled, or notched. Petals can be arranged in many configurations, from a single row to a tightly packed multitude. Peonies easily combine with accent flowers and foliage. Their long, st