It's time for my favorite gardening ritual of the year...the annual planting of more peonies. This year, it's three plants of 'Bev' (low curtsy to Kathy for the recommendation), with places along Peony Promenade already chosen for them. I also have a new single peony, Coral 'N Gold, for which I need to find the perfect place somewhere...somewhere...but where? Ah, the delicious torment.
I'll also be adding a few new bearded iris to the garden for the first time. I already have Siberian iris (perpetually molested by rabbits), as well as early spring-blooming dwarf reticulated iris, and I've killed a few Japanese iris, but I hadn't made the time, room or plans for any bearded irises until now. I picked up three 'Edith Wolford' today, and will try to choose a reblooming variety or two in time for planting this weekend. What can I say? I can't not grow bearded irises, which were, of course, a legendary favorite of Henry Mitchell, and which are the subject of my favorite-titled piece of his, from Henry Mitchell On Gardening: "Where Iris Is, I'm Smiling."
Everyone should have an 'Edith' in their garden. Doesn't the name just bring to mind fussy old ladies from a garden club, up early in the morning with their secateurs and polyester floral smocks? Who could resist smiling? Thought of you today Chan, while browsing in Barnes and Noble. They've released Graham Greene centenniel paperbacks of The Quiet American and The End of the Affair, plus one other I don't remember the title of. Just paperbacks but with charming artwork.
Posted by: avril | September 09, 2004 at 06:54 PM
I can't have enough old-fashioned flowers...yes, I like the name too. And as for Graham Greene--let me mop up the Homer Simpson drool here at the thought of walking out of the bookstore with an armful of brand spanking new editions. The copies I have in my library are over twenty-five years old at this point, and the spines are so faded I can hardly read the titles any more...good excuse for snapping up the new ones, huh?
Posted by: Chan S. | September 09, 2004 at 07:26 PM
Wow, three plants of 'Bev'! You don't do anything halfway, do you? I hope they thrive for you as they have for me, 'cause they ain't cheap!
Posted by: Kathy | September 10, 2004 at 07:42 AM
Scrimp when you can, so you can splurge when you must. (Kinda catchy, eh?)
Posted by: Chan S. | September 10, 2004 at 08:55 AM
I have a 'Coral 'n Gold' peony too! It is from the same source you obtainted yours. I also received 'Falcon' and 'Miss America.' I planted them on September 7 and I am very much looking forward to the spring of 2005.
Posted by: Jason A. | September 12, 2004 at 09:28 AM
That is wonderful! The idea of planting a hunk of root in the fall and getting a living bouquet of peony the very next spring is one that will never fail to amaze me.
Posted by: Chan S. | September 13, 2004 at 09:02 AM