A Yellow Peony

by Daniel Lessard
“I don’t believe you… that’s not a peony, there aren’t any yellow peonies.”  My neighbour was fixated. How could I convince her that it was indeed a peony? In fact, it is ‘Bartzella’, one of the most beautiful peonies on earth. The peony in question had cost me a small fortune in 2007 - it was so expensive in fact that I never confessed the true price to my wife.

Bartzella

The first time I saw a ‘Bartzella’ was in the Allan Rogers book “Peonies”. I immediately decided that I had to own one, but where to find it? I checked the list of vendors on the
Canadian Peony Society website and finally found one at the Pacific Rim Native Plant Nursery in Chilliwack, BC (a bit far to order a peony but all of my fears were soon abated).  The plant was a good size and it produced a flower – a single flower mind you – the following spring. All summer, I pampered ‘Bartzella’ to ensure it would survive though such

care is not really needed because this peony is robust and capable of enduring all conditions.  Two years ago, I bought a ‘Claire de Lune’ from a vendor who had convinced me, with photos as evidence, that it was a yellow peony. I was fooled, but I have never regretted

buying it. More ivory than yellow, ‘Claire de Lune’ is a beauty, which delighted my neighbour who was convinced that peonies were only available in pink, red and white.  Around the same time I discovered another yellow peony that had been chosen as the 1996 Peony of the Year by the American Peony Society. Once again my interest was piqued, and I acquired a ‘Garden Treasure’. Though it may disappoint you to hear it, ‘Garden Treasure’ is pretty but not nearly as seductive as ‘Bartzella’.
Despite this, I cannot imagine a collection of yellow peonies

Garden Treasure

without a ‘Garden Treasure’.  The third in my collection is a ‘Border Charm’. Lovely for sure, but
she’s sulking because I moved her twice. It didn’t produce a flower last year, but it is nevertheless comfortably planted in my rock garden in plain view for all my neighbours and I hope that she will be prolific once again this spring. I have also promised to never move her again…

I recently read that the authentic and true yellow peony - the mother of all the yellows - was a peony with an improbable name, which intrigued me: ‘Mlokosewitschii’. The English call it ‘Mloko the Witch’ or the sorceress.  She has taken her time to become established, but her delicateness

delights me. Unfortunately, she only visits briefly and last spring, a storm destroyed her first flower to my utter disappointment.  Next step: several of the beautiful yellow
Japanese and Chinese peonies even if I have no more space in my garden unless I sacrifice some of my old favorites such as
‘Mr. Jules Élie’ or ‘Festiva Maxima’.

Mlokosewitchii

Bring on spring! I almost forgot to mention that I gave a ‘Bartzella’ root to my sceptical neighbour. I hope that she gets at least one flower…

Message from the CPS President

 From President David Maltby
Spring has finally arrived .... almost. In the mild climate of southern Ontario, daffodils are in bloom and finally it seems that the weather will be installed for at least two weeks. This should be the end of a long winter here and almost everywhere in the country. I spent a lot of time monitoring the plants out of the ground. A word of encouragement for our members in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba the warm weather will eventually happen!
This time of year is a favorite among gardeners. Like I said, I spend a lot of time monitoring the new shoots. These peonies have their particularity. Gratis is a bright red and remains so until the end of spring. Little Red Gem grows differently from their parents. Flower buds of Paeonia tenufolia are already trained, ready to hatch buried in the foliage. Peonia mlokosewitshcii flourishes so very delicate. Each cultivar grows differently. This time of year fills me with happiness. What a joy to find the spring after a long winter!
This year, the exhibition and the annual meeting will be held in Rosemere. I insist that all our members go there. The exhibition is a delight for gardeners and lovers of peonies. This is a good opportunity to exchange information and meet friends. Martinus Mooijekind and his colleagues have worked very hard to prepare for a festival that will impress you. Rosemere is located in the suburbs of Montreal and now has a garden of peonies which the Canadian Peony Society will offer some cultivars. The exhibition will see new cultivars Quebec breeders and meet our members in the Belle Province. I look forward to seeing you there all.
I wish everyone a wonderful gardening season throughout the summer.

    *********************************************************************************

Le message du président   par David Maltby

Le printemps est enfin arrivé….ou presque. Dans le climat agréable du sud de l’Ontario, les narcisses sont finalement en fleur et il semble que le beau temps se soit installé pour au moins deux semaines. Ce devrait être la fin d’un long hiver ici et presque partout au pays. J’ai passé beaucoup de temps à surveiller les plantes qui sortent de terre. Un mot d’encouragement pour nos membres de l’Alberta, de la Saskatchewan et du Manitoba : le temps chaud finira bien par arriver!

Ce temps de l’année est le préféré des jardiniers. Je vous l’ai dit, je passe beaucoup de temps à surveiller les nouvelles pousses. Celles des pivoines ont chacune leur particularité. Gratis est d’un rouge brillant et le demeure jusqu’à la fin du printemps. Little Red Gem croît de façon différente de ses parents. Les bourgeons floraux de Paeonia tenufolia sont déjà formés, prêts à éclore, enfouis dans le feuillage. Peonia mlokosewitshcii s’épanouit de façon très délicate. Chaque cultivar se développe de façon différente. Ce temps de l’année me comble de bonheur. Quelle joie de retrouver le printemps après un si long hiver!

Cette année, l’exposition et l’assemblée annuelle se dérouleront à Rosemère. J’insiste pour que tous nos membres s’y rendent. L’exposition fait le bonheur des jardiniers et des amateurs de pivoines. Voilà une bonne occasion d’échanger des informations et de retrouver des amis. Martinus Mooijekind et ses collaborateurs ont travaillé très fort pour préparer un festival qui saura vous impressionner. Rosemère est située en banlieue de Montréal et elle a maintenant un jardin de pivoines auquel la Société canadienne de la pivoine offrira quelques cultivars. L’exposition permettra d’admirer de nouveaux cultivars d’hybrideurs québécois et de rencontrer nos membres de la Belle province. J’ai hâte de vous y retrouver toutes et tous.

 Je souhaite à toutes et tous une merveilleuse saison de jardinage tout au long de l’été.

Message from the APS President

American Peony Society

Dana Tretheway, President

www.americanpeonysociety.org

What a difference a year makes!  Here it is the 23^rd of April and I have ‘Athena’, ‘Roy Perhson’s Best Yellow’ and ‘Hanikisoi’ in bloom.  Last year at this time I had 30 varieties in bloom.  With this cooler weather, I may very well be able to take some blooms for the annual exhibit at Longwood Gardens.  As I communicate with other growers through out the U.S., it seems as if everyone is being affected by the cooler weather.  Some are still having a bit of frost and snow in the mornings.  Harvey Buchite reported that he went out on the 14^th April to count emerging peonies… his total zero.

I would like to mention that the five new peonies I planted during the fall are all doing well.  Each of the accessions was garnered at the auction in Omaha.  ‘Bartzella’ and “Honor’, donated by Oregon Perennial Company, are coming along nicely though a bit small; but ‘Honor’ does have a couple of buds. Mike Miller’s donations of ‘Dr. J.H. Neely’ and ‘Mrs. J.H. Neely’ are coming on slow but show promise.  Finally, and thanks to David and Geneva Weisser, I have a very nice ‘Hanikisoi’ with four large blooms. 

One item that is not coming along this spring is the APS Peony Handbook.  At the convention last year, the Board of Directors requested that a new and updated handbook be prepared.  A number of articles have been prepared and are being reviewed; however, we came up short and progress has been retarded.  This provides another opportunity for me to reach out to the general membership and to the CPS general membership and ask you to provide input as to what you would like to see in the handbook and perhaps volunteer to write a section or two.  Please email your thoughts to ampeonysociety@att.net. I feel a sense of urgency to have this handbook completed due to the fact that our current supply of handbooks is depleted.

Another area of concern to members and directors has been the APS website.  Of late, there have been noticeable improvements.  Claudia Schroer and our new director Adriana Vance are working diligently to make improvements and additions to the site.  However, for us to realize continued improvement and growth of the website it will require significant expenditures and this issue will have to be discussed at the annual board meeting at Longwood.  Results of the discussion will be reported in the September issue if the “Bulletin”.

Once again, I encourage our Canadian cousins to join us at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA for the APS Convention and Exhibit, May 30-June 2, 2013.  Attendees need to be a member of the APS.

Wishing everyone a great peony season and a pleasant summer.

VILLE de ROSEMÈRE

Plantation
CHAQUE VILLE A REÇU 60 PLANTS DE PIVOINES DE LA COLLECTION (DESJARDINS) 12 AUTRES VILLES RECEVRONS
60 PLANTS DE LA MÊME COLLECTION (DESJARDINS) EN SEPTEMBRE ET OCTOBRE

VILLE DE LACHUTE

VILLE DE QUÉBEC

VILLE DE ST-BRUNO

présenté par Martinus Mooijekind

Invitation

Monsieur Claude Benjamin, maire de Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, et les membres du conseil municipal vous invitent à assister à la plantation  

de la Collection  de pivoines Desjardins

en présence

des représentants de la Société québécoise de la pivoine et

de la Caisse Desjardins Mont-St-Bruno,

le vendredi 10 mai, 10 h,

au stationnement de l’église

14, rue des Peupliers.

Café et brioches seront servis à l’hôtel de ville par la suite.

RSVP

Prière de confirmer votre présence avant le 8 mai, 16 h 30,

en communiquant avec la réception de l’hôtel de ville,

par courriel à l’adresse information@stbruno.ca

ou par téléphone au 450 653-2443, poste « 0 ».

Suzanne Le Blanc Chef, Division des communications Ville de Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville 1585, rue Montarville, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville (Québec)  J3V 3T8 Téléphone : 450 645-2903 suzanne.leblanc@stbruno.ca www.stbruno.ca

Spring finally arrives in Ontario

Some of the peonies are poking through the ground.  We have had a few days of low double digit temps here in Southern Ontario.  Now that spring has finally arrived I am impatiently awaiting the arrival of the first bloom.

Mosaïque 14foot

Voici la infrastucture pour la mosaïque 14foot prévu pour le FESTIVAL DE PIVOINE ROSEMÈRE Juin 15.

martinus

Mosaïque 14foot