Paeonia Nordica
Canadian Peony Society Quarterly Newsletter
To CPS Members: The November issue of the Society has been
held up due to some unexpected delays. You will be receiving your copy
shortly.
Excerpts from August 2010
President's Column by Blaine Marchand
Come Rain or Come Shine, a song popularized by singer Johnny Mercer, could have
been the theme song for the 2010 AGM and Show, held at the Oshawa Valley Garden
Botanical Garden, June 12 and 13. While entries were being judged, the crowd
waiting to come through the doors grew larger and larger, having left the
outdoor peony garden, seeking shelter, due to a tremendous downpour.
Once in, the bright colours of peonies, arranged on the tables, were a magnificent
rainbow of hues, ranging from the sunny ‘Garden Treasure’ to the standby pink,
red and white – ‘Sarah Bernhardt’, ‘Charm’ and ‘Krinkled White’, among others.
Despite a two-week early blooming period, due to a sudden April blast of summer,
an amazing 807 blooms filled the space with the luscious fragrance of peonies.
All day, cameras flashed and pens scratched names of cultivars.
Not just peonies were in abundance. Deputy Mayor, Nester Pidwerbecki, officially
opened the show, accompanied by Ward Councillors, John Neal and John Henry, who
also spoke. National greetings were brought by Member of Parliament, Colin Carrie.
Presentations and demonstrations highlighted the expertise of CPS members.
In between peonies and certificates for roots were auctioned to raise funds
for the Society.
Sunday was the nicer day. Yet still crowds came to view the entries and stroll
through the wonderful Peony Garden, stop at exhibits and artisan kiosks along
the paths that arced about the garden.
At the AGM, a turnout of close to 60 members received reports on the Society’s
financial state, ratified the updated Constitution and Bylaws, and received
updates on the Newsletter, the Gilbert Collection, the recently launched CPS
Blog, regional reports, and the 2011 AGM and Show, to be held in Calgary,
July 2 and 3, 2011.
Kudos go to Judi Denny and her many volunteers who worked so diligently
to put this together without a glitch (other than the Saturday downpour,
which even Judi, despite being a force of nature in her own right,
could not forestall).
Personally, it was a chance to speak with long-time members, Val Hosty
and Harry McGee and to put a face to members (and Board members) names.
It was wonderful to see how a common love of peonies makes our Society
so vibrant and cohesive. All that was sweetened for me by the simple pleasure
of June weather, and the peacefulness and harmony, hallmarks of our country.
Featured Article - Peony Profine - 'Raspberry
Sundae'
by Mary Anne Robinson
I’ve always loved peonies but the first ones I grew, I purchased, from a field, by looks alone.
I had no idea of their names. It was the late 60’s and I was just starting out
gardening in Aurora Ontario. An elderly local grower was clearing his field and getting out of the business.
I bought what I liked best, and in the fall, they were delivered, unnamed. They were dearly cherished,
and really, about all I had room for. Somewhere along the way, I saw an ad in Garden Imports catalogue
for a peony named ‘Raspberry Sundae’ and a glowing description and idyllic photo, but I didn’t really
have much more room, and the price seemed steep. Still, it said “new” so that was probably why.
In the 80’s we moved to Guelph, to a larger garden. Early on, we went to Fergus and bought several peonies,
again choosing from what was in bloom at the time. The vendor this time, I remember. His name was Wally Gilbert.
And he was in the process of closing his business too. This time, I knew the names of my acquisitions and I still grow them with pleasure.
Then six years ago, a number of things came together and we purchased the remains of Wally’s nursery.
And in the group came ‘Raspberry Sundae’. At last. And if it was expensive all those years ago,
how could one describe it’s cost now? Perhaps in karmic costs, not dollars. But no matter.
‘Raspberry Sundae’ is exquisite. Carl Klehm registered it in 1968, so it probably was fairly new,
in that long ago catalogue. It is blush to cream, with the petaloids crowned by a
bright topknot of raspberry pink and paler pink guard petals. Good enough to eat,
really. The fragrance is mild but pleasant and the flowers are mid to late season,
blooming for us, about June 5th to 9th, in normal years, along with ‘Red Grace’,
‘Princess Margaret’, ‘Félix Crousse’ and the earlier double whites.
The bush is strong and disease resistant, with good large leaves, holding it’s flowers,
which do not have many side buds, well above the foliage. Allan Rogers recommends
it as a double pink, suitable for commercial cut flower use. Certainly everyone
who sees it in our garden is captivated. It’s good, very good.
And if you attended the annual show, this year, in Oshawa, you probably remember how good.
‘Raspberry Sundae’ won Best in Show this year, in the Court of Honour. Maybe it wasn’t that expensive after all.
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