Bio of Fangyun Cheng

Dr. Fangyun Cheng is a professor at Beijing Forestry University where he teaches Ornamental Plant Propagation and Nursery Management.  Dr. Cheng’s research interest is focused on the breeding and propagation of ornamental plants, especially Paeonia. He is a leading authority and researcher on tree peonies.

Fangyun grew up in a village in Gansu province in Northwest China near where there are still wild populations of the tree peony P. rockii. Fangyun’s interest in peonies was stimulated early in life by his grandfather who grew various ornamentals, including two classic cultivars of tree peony.

Fangyun Cheng obtained his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees from the Biology Department of Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, China where he majored in Botany.  For the Ph.D. degree he majored in Ornamental Plants in the College of Landscape Architecture of Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, China. Following completion of his Master’s degree in 1987, he started his research work on the Mudan as the tree peony is known in China and he taught biology for approximately 10 years in Lanzhou. Following completion of his Ph.D., he spent two years as a special researcher of the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), at Shimane University, Matsue, Japan, studying relationships of Japanese and Chinese cultivars of P. suffruticosa. Since 2000, Dr. Cheng has been a professor in the College of Landscape Architecture of Beijing Forestry University.

Dr. Cheng’s research is mainly on tree peonies endemic to China. It is focused mostly on two topics, breeding and propagation of both species and cultivars directed towards the sustainable development of the peony industry in China.  Studies by Dr. Cheng on Rockii hybrids led to the publication of the book “Chinese Flare Mudan” in 2005.

He has received many awards for his teaching and research on peonies. Dr. Cheng’s research group is composed primarily of M.Sc. and Ph.D. students working on a wide variety of research topics on tree peonies.

The propagation of tree peonies is difficult and slow and therefore Dr. Cheng has spent many years investigating methods to improve peony propagation techniques including micro propagation by tissue culture. He also works on the domestication of tree peonies from wild peony species. Other studies include the genetic and hormonal controls of re-blooming in tree peonies, the genetic relationships among tree peony species and hybrid origins of different cultivars using gene sequencing and markers. Dr. Cheng has done extensive studies on the endangered tree peony, Paeonia rockii and worked to conserve this and other endemic species. In addition to working on peonies as ornamental plants, Dr. Cheng has also been investigating the potential of tree peonies as an oil seed crop in China.

The Don of Peonies
By Reiner Jakubowski
 
For those who don't know, Don Hollingsworth was awarded the Bertrand H. Farr Lifetime Achievement Award at the American Peony Society (APS) Convention held in Longwood Gardens in early June.  Don has been an influential person in the peony world for over 40 years. Here is a bit of his history.  Elected to the Board of Directors of the APS in June 1976, he continues to this day in  that capacity. He was the President of the APS from 1986-88 and from 1993-95. Don has contributed well over 100 submissions to the APS Bulletin, beginning in March 1970, has written material written specifically for "The American Hybrid Peony."

He is an active contributor and plays a leadership role in the hybridizer's group "Paeonia." Don is the originator of 60 registered peonies, beginning with 6 in 1984, which included 'Garden Treasure', still a serious contender for the best of this type. He has been a registrant of a dozen originations from  other breeders' work in which he found value.  Then there are all those activities that can't be tabulated but include being a mentor and an adviser to up-start peony breeders as well as supporting their efforts with pollen and breeding stock from his garden. He is a strong supporter of the APS and the regional peony societies through donations of peonies for fund raising sales and auctions.

It is good that Don intends to keep his hand in the game. As A.P. Saunders, also wise, wrote many years ago:  "I have spoken elsewhere of the longevity of peony growers, and I truly believe that there is an influence that comes into our lives through a close and loving contact with the plants of earth, which keeps us sane and calm amid the uncertainties and the inevitable griefs of life, and which may very well tend thereby to lengthen our own days as well as make them happier." (A. P. Saunders, March, 1922.)

La Pivoinerie D'Aoust

Compiled by Margaret Sequeira
Taken from The Peony - C to C Vol 2 Issue 1 Feb 1999 ; Vol 2 Issue 3 Aug 1999 written by L D'Aoust
Vol 11 Issue 1 Mar 2008 written by R Jakubowski

Lindsay D'Aoust is an electrical engineer by training, An avid collector of gardening books with several about peonies in her collection.
I'm now hard at work creating my niche in the ornamental horticulture industry.  My company, La Pivoinerie D'Aoust was started in 1996 when I left my downtown Montreal job and we purchased a small piece of farmland in the western corner of Quebec.
La pivoinerie (translation - a place where peonies are grown) is a small nursery growing about 75 varieties of peonies.  I have three great field hands; daughter Julie, Max the Westie and Rosie the lab.  When not in the field with my peonies, I help out with the computer program at Julie's school or work on my horticulture courses from the University of Guelph.

Hybridized by Maurice Ménard  and registered by Lindsay D'Aoust

Mary Pratte - Ménard/D'Aoust 2007

Selected by M. Ménard for registration before his death in 2002.

very sturdy, single flowered peony with dense,

glossy clear green foliage and mid pink blooms 15cm in size.

It is however an advanced generation hybrid, likely F3 or F4. 

Blooms at approximately same time as 'Red Charm'.

George Vorauer  - Ménard/D'Aoust 2007

 tall plant with dark red 10cm flowers, trouble free cutlivar with dark stems and foliage,

Mid-pink disc (series of bumps or projections surrounding base of carpels) is very prominent.

The pod parent is a seedling of 'Karl Rosenfield'.

This peony was named to honour George Vorauer, long a key advocate to preserve

and restore the historic peony collection at the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa. 

Catherine Louise -  Ménard/D'Aoust 2005

Selected by M. Ménard for registration before his death in 2002.

tall self standing, single flowered peony with perfectly rounded petals which open blush

and fade to waxy white with time.  Deep pink/red stigmas and filaments form a tightly packed

centre.  Petioles and stems are almost uniformly deep red and set off waxy white flowers.

Cultivar has consistently shown excellent fall foliage colour.

Named for his grand-daughter Catherine Louise Ménard.

Plants bloom at approximately same time as 'Red Charm suggesting a hybrid background.

Cultivars are seedlings from the collection of Québec peony breeder Maurice Ménard

Like most of his selections exact parentage in unclear.

Friends of the Central Experimental Farm

A Brief History of the Peonies
http://www.friendsofthefarm.ca/index.htm

William Saunders

 William Saunders, the first Director of the CEF, brought the first peonies
to the Farm in the 1890's and began testing. 

Perhaps the most prolific of both herbaceous and tree peonies of all times
was William Saunders' son A.P. Saunders a founding member of the
American Peony Society. 

His work was particularly important because he brought together as
many wild peonies as possible and made crosses between them,
which had not been tried much to that point.  The result was 17,000
seedlings from which he selected only the best (a very tiny portion of
the plants he hybridized).                                                                                           
His groundbreaking and very methodical work brought into the peony world a new range of colours and much earlier bloom times than were available in the more common garden varieties of the day.


A. P. Saunders was born in London Ontario and moved to Hamilton College in Clinton, New York to teach. Although this is where he did most of his peony breeding, he spent summers at the Farm and would work here with his father and his famous brother Charles (the one who developed Marquis wheat) on plant breeding techniques.

Peonies on the Farm, 1896

In 1998, the complete collection of all peonies at the Farm was down to around 220 plants. All were lifted, cleaned and divided by Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada in 2000. Major restoration work on the peony beds in the Ornamental Gardens has been completed. Some gaps remain to be filled and duplicates removed.

Ferncliff Gardens

by Margaret Sequeira
Taken from Heritage Places/Mission Community Archives

Mr Milton Jack bought property from Wm McEwen and Tom Catherwood, and launched Ferncliff Gardens at Hatzic in 1920. There, he hybridized and developed new forms of gladioli and other flowers, which were shipped to customers throughout North America, and sent to major shows and competitions. Where blooms were entered for competition, over fifty first prizes were won, the great majority of these being won by Mr. Jack's own originations; many of his varieties are successfully grown as grand champions in international shows.

On September 18, 1947 the Fraser Valley Record ran a story in which Mr. Milton Jack explained how the Bulb Industry had developed. The paper reports that Mr. Jack had recently returned from visiting a number of the major gladiolus shows in the Pacific North West area where he displayed his own originations.

In 1953 Mr. Jack was awarded a Bronze Plaque for his conspicuous contribution to advancement of gladiolus from the North American Gladiolus Council.1 Mr. Jack was selected for the award because of his contributions during the past 30 years in hybridizing and developing new varieties of gladiolus. The award was presented for the first time to anyone living in the Pacific Northwest.
In the forties and fifties the private gardens and the Jack family home was the scene of the annual "Strawberry Social" tea of the Hatzic United Church.

The Jack family continues to operate a retail nursery growing high quality dahlias, iris, daylilies and peonies.

Milton Jack Peony Introductions

Linda K Jack - 1970 - Double, large, deep, rose-red, highly fragrant, late.

Good stems and strong growth.  Not offered by Ferncliff since 1992.

Named for a daughter of Milton Jack

Milton Jack - 1980 - Semi Double to Double, rose-red, excellent petal texture;

flowers stand up well, good stems; early midseason

Mimi - 1974 - Japanese, clear medium pink with golden stamens, free blooming

midseason, resembles Do Tell.  No longer in commerce;

last offerd by Ferncliff in 1985

Unknown Soldier - 1949 - Ferncliff Gardens received this plant mixed in with a shipment

of peonies from Holland, and was unable to identify it, so gave it the present name.

Flowers are double, cerise red, lightening with age, with ruffled petals, rose or semi rose

form, with stamens near center usually hidden but occasionally showing. Reasonably

strong stems, but may need support. Blooms late midseason. Good fragrance for red cultivar.

Reverend Milton Jack was born in Chateauguary, Quebec and educated at McGill and Chicago universities. He entered the Canadian Presbyterian Mission in 1905. He was principal of the Theological Training School in Formosa and later joined the faculty of the University of Seoul, Korea. He also did missionary work on Formosa and the Chinese mainland, where he contracted malaria. After a lifetime of recognition, Mr. Jack passed away at his home on December 5th ca 1964 at the age of 88. He was survived by his wife Catherine Winifred Jack; two sons, Lawrence and Wilfred (operated business along with his father); two daughters, Miss Elsie Jack and Mrs. Gilmour (Marjory) Clark and eight grandchildren. Pallbearers were Ross Clark of Vancouver, Robert Jack, David Jack, Colin Jack, Jack Peetoom and Al Pethybridge.

The 1975 Ferncliff Gardens catalogue states remittances were payable to W.R. Jack

David Jack - grandson; continues to operate Ferncliff Gardens with his wife Sheila. In 2008, they were awarded a special recognition by the Mission Community Heritage Commission for continued operation of the pioneer family business. David, the dahlia expert, has been growing dahlias for over 40 years. David graduated from the University of Guelph with an Ontario Diploma in Horticulture (O.D.H.). 

The Jack home, built in 1922 is two stories, Tudor style white stucco with brown trim, at least 6 small windows on the second story, 2 larger windows on the first story. The interior includes spacious well-maintained rooms, which provide a gracious setting for many gatherings and special events.
Rural farmland features fields of flowers. The owner's personal gardens comprise about 3/4 acre.




Daughter Elsie Jack remembers that the private flower garden at Ferncliff became very lovely over the years. A spacious terraced lawn over looks the valley. To the north a wide border of trees and Azaleas. A border of low growing Juniper marked the boundary where the hill sloped steeply down in front of the Juniper, Azaleas, Dwarf Shrubs and Perennials. On the west side a pergola about sixty feet long covered by wisteria, and some other climbers along the way marked the end of the lawn. Below the Pergola on a slope was her father's hobby, a rock garden, full of unusual Alpine plants.

Ferncliff Gardens is an internationally acclaimed "pioneer flower farm" located at 8502 McTaggart Street V2V 6S6 in Hatzic, just east of Mission. Pioneers in the horticultural mail order service and hybridizing of new varieties of flowers, the members of the Jack family have adapted their business over the past eighty-eight years, (1920 to present) making it the oldest family operated business in Mission.
The property includes 10 acres of farmland and the private residence. The house sits on the eastern end of the farmland overlooking the eastern Fraser Valley.

Rowancroft Garden History

Taken from Mills to Milleneum (Meadowvale Book Pt III) and Peony Roots by Michael Denny  The Peony - C to C Vol2 Issue 1 Feb 1999

Rowancroft Gardens had its beginning in 1914 created by Miss Mary E. Blacklock.  She had purchased 5 acres (2ha) of Lot 10, Con.3, WHS,(west of Toronto Airport in Mississauga. It was just South off the Malton Sideroad, now Derry Road, west of Hwy 10 on East side of Credit River) in October, 1913 for $1,500.00 from Francis Jackson and established a botanical garden.  She lived in a two storey Georgian style home of wood siding construction.  On April 10, 1918 she purchased another 2.4 acres (1ha) for $732.00 from Goldwin Smith.  By 1920, business was booming so well she had 7 people in her employ, that were required for eight months of the year. She hired several others during the growing season.

It was a favourite spot for people to stroll, especially in June when peonies were in full bloom.
Miss Blacklock was born in Hastings, ON to John and Louise Blacklock.  When she was a young lady, her family moved to Toronto, where her gardening expertise was nurtured and took root.  She planted a garden at their Davenport Road home.  She sold plants for 5 and 10 cents and 25 cents for shrubs and donated the money to St.Annes Anglican Church Building Fund.
She started correspondence with horticulturalists and collected seeds from all over the world until she had an outstanding collection of flowers in her garden and tremendous knowledge.
Upon her fathers passing in 1910, she started to travel to visit the horticulturalists she had been corresponding with.  She visited the Kew Gardens in London, England the gardens of Frenchmen, near Tours, France.  Here she found peonies, which became her passion. From Mons. V. Lemoine in France, she was introduced to lilacs she adored and would transport to Canada.
In 1914, before the start of WWI, she established Rowancroft Gardens.  Her french peonies and lilacs were much appreciated when she introduced them here.  Seeds from this stock replenished their supply of lilacs, of which the fragrance was thoroughly enjoyed during the blooming season in the spring.
She entered floral competitions at Horticultural Shows around the province.  She took first prize at the Toronto Horticultural Show for her irises and a first at the London International Show for peonies.

In 1915, Miss Minerva Swann Castle began to work with Miss Blacklock as a helper. She was tremendously horticulturally conscious and gardeners began to flock to Rowancroft Gardens to learn from her astonishing plant knowledge. It was said that she had an intense interest in all growing things, the capacity for hard work, and a keen sense of humour that endeared her to the customers in the village.
Miss Castle, as a member of the Meadowvale Women's Institute, was instrumental in starting up the first library in Meadowvale in 1929 and she became the first Librarian.  In 1937, she served as the president of the Streetsville Anglican Church Chancel Group.  On August 7, 1941, she purchased a piece of property from Miss Blacklock and had a one and a half storey three room frame house built on the same laneway and was given the right-of-way to get out to Derry Road.  She was a founding member of the Credit Valley Conservation Authority in 1954 and was also very active with the Toronto Garden Club for many years.

Miss Mary Blacklock(Peel Archives)

Miss Blacklock passed away in 1956 at her home in her 96th year.  Upon Miss Blacklock's death, Minerva Castle became partners in Rowancroft Gardens with Miss Ethel Winter.  Their business flourished.  Miss Castles favourite peony was Grace Adams, named for one of the Garden's workers.  It was a large white bloom with golden stamens in its center.  Miss Castle became known and respected across Canada for the supreme stock and as being one of the countries best plants-men.  She was an accomplished grower of peonies and perennials.  Her peonies were shipped as far as Australia.
In the 1960's a Rowancroft catalogue offered seventy peonies for sale.  Most of the peonies were available for $1 or $2 per plant.  Eight of those listed were cultivars hybridized by Miss Blacklock and two by Mr Brown who had a peony nursery in Elora, ON.

Blacklock introductions:

Angela  - large rose shaped flowers of softest pink, Mid-season,  

Aroha  - A lovely soft pale pink with creamy stamens, S, 

Chalice  -  Strong growth and cup-shaped flowers of rich pink, S, 

Grace Adams  - Single white with fine boss of golden stamens. S 

Late Loveliness  - The name describes this peony perfectly.  It is faint pink in the bud

and pure white in the open flower.  Not too large and of perfect shape.  Plant of good

strong growth and habit.  It blooms when all other peonies have faded - very late.

Lisbeth - strong growing variety with large pink flowers.  Late

Polly Prim  - Neatly fluted petals, primly arranged, pale pink.  Early

W.T. Macoun  - Semi double flowers of good clear red that does not bleach

Blacklock cultivars were not officially registered with APS.  Most of them do appear in Peony Check Lists compiled by Mr. and Mrs. Byron Gist in 1956 and published in the APS application,  History of the Peonies and their Originators, 1976.   In that publication , it notes that a list of Miss Blacklock's peonies appear in APS Bulletin 93.  Dates suggest that her peonies were bred before 1935.  Unfortunately, two of the Blacklock cultivars have names that are duplicates of other peony cultivars.  The name Chalice was also used by A.P. Saunders and the name Polly Prim by Mr. Auten.   Details can be found in the APS History lists.  There is a connection to the Dominion Experimental Farm in Ottawa.  The cultivar W.T. Macoun is named after the man who hired Isobella Preston to work on ornamental horticulture at the Farm.  Miss Blacklock probably new the people at the Farm.  Miss Preston's lilies are included in the catalogue.  In 1936, the APS Annual Show was held in Toronto.  There is a brief reference to one group of show winners on page 39 of the APS publication, American Peony Society, 75 Years. Miss Blacklock took third place in the category requiring 100 stems with at least 80 named varieties!  She was the top Canadian.  The Rowancroft collection of peonies were from Hybridizers such as Dessert, Crousse, Calot, Kelway & Lemoine as well as Brand from the US and Kelway from England.  The collection was very old and reflects the fact the nursery was in its prime before WWII.  Most of these cultivars were introduced by 1925 and there is no evidence of the many hybrids introduced during the Great Depression.

Brown introductions:

Elora  - Large flowers of pure white flushed pink at centre - rose type, Mid season

Fairleigh - Robust plant with large, blush pink flowers.  Lovely Mid season

Miss Castle had been presented with many awards over her lifetime:
1961 Britains Royal Horticultural Award of Merit for the "Sorbus Rowancroft Pink" Coral Mountain Ash
1964 Dominion Life Membership Pin at the 75th Anniversary of Trinity's Church Women's Auxillary
1967 Federal Government's Centennial Medal  for Red Cross involvement and contribution to the horticultural industry
1969 the first Gold Medal ever presented from the Toronto Garden Club for achieving most outstanding contribution to Horticulture in Canada presented by Dr Leslie Laking

Miss Castle passed away January 1, 1976 at age 84. The service was held at the Streetsville Trinity Anglican Church on Monday January 5 with services conducted by Reverend David Busby, Rev. David Adams and Lay Reader, Sam McCallion. She was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetary in Toronto.
On Friday October 21, 1977, over 100 people gathered to pay tribute to Minerva Castle at the Meadowvale Community Hall.  Organized by the Women's Institute, of which she was a devoted member since 1910.  Councillors Hazel McCallion and Larry Taylor, Chief Librarian Noel Ryan and Rev. David Busby assembled for the unveiling of a plaque that would be hung in the Community Hall.  Unveiled by a relative, John Beck.  It read "To commemorate the Generosity of Minerva S. Castle to the Village of Meadowvale, 1891-1976."

Before Miss Castle passed away her property was sold to Frank Baldesarra, who lived in the village of Meadowvale.  He has quite a history with the property, where he has built himself a spectacular two storey red brick mansion.  He tore down her house in 2002, and rents the elegant Blacklock house at 1160 Derry Road.