"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Friday, February 27, 2009

Mmmmm, 'Sorbet'.

This past weekend while I attended the Northwest Flower and Garden show I was very good and only made one purchase.  It was difficult to do because so many plants were calling out to me.  While at the show I added hellebore 'Party Dress' and cobra lilies to my wish list.  
I had been wanting a peony for the last couple of years, but just hadn't found one that really caught my attention or my budget.  After looking through the many choices I found this one called 'Sorbet'.  I love how there are layers of colors.  They just look delicious to me!
I know the way a peony is planted is very important, so I followed the directions I was given carefully.  I've only planted one other herbaceous peony before, and it has grown and bloomed beautifully.  I decided to plant it near the roses and plan to plant something in front so there will be interest once it has finished blooming.  This one had a huge root with about 4 eyes.
 I'll also need to get a ring support since the rule with peonies seems to be that as soon as they bloom it will rain very hard and all your blooms will droop to the ground.  I guess that probably can wait a year, but knowing me I better do it now so I don't forget before it's too late.  I hope 'Sorbet' will be worth the wait.
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24 comments:

  1. Tell me more about the special planting. I have a peony that sends up inches of stems but nothing else. Of course it was moved a couple years ago due to the dogs ... Sorbet looks delicious. Enjoy that one! Are you going to the Arboretum sale tomorrow?

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  2. It will be worth the wait. I just love mine. I had a picture of it on my blog last week if you want to see one.
    Lona

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  3. This looks like a Beautiful peony. I wish I had room for another one... Who knows?? ;-)

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  4. Melanthia - Basically I was told I needed to make sure the eyes need to be one inch under ground. I know they can take a year or two to bloom and they don't really like to be moved. That can slow their bloom time down. I bet if you're patient you will get a bloom soon. My other one took a good two years to bloom, and now it has tons.

    Lona - The one on your blog is beautiful. I'm glad to see it looks pretty close to the picture. Thanks!

    Shady Gardener - I bet you could squeeze one in :)
    The hardest part of gardening is finding room for all the beautiful plants out there!

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  5. This is such a pretty variety that I have not seen. Peonies were my mom's favorite. Thanks for the memories.

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  6. ooooh, nice choice Catherine. It's gorgeous. I would absolutely wait on something like that but who knows, maybe it will surprise you with a bloom this year. It's very healthy looking. I bought a new peony last year 'Bowl of Beauty' (same colors) but this looks fancier. I might have switched had I seen the one you picked!!! Good luck with it and keep us posted if it blooms.

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  7. I have yet to meet a peony I did not like. You'll soon have some luscious 'sorbet' in your garden.

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  8. I keep eyeing up those sorbet peonies whenever I see them. I love the bi-colored blooms. I've got four that are all pink, pass-alongs from one of Cheesehead's friends at the store he used to work at. Well, we bought one of them but she gave us three of them and they followed us from our old gardens.

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  9. Mildred - It's nice to see flowers that remind of people. I feel that way about dahlia's and my Poppa (grandfather). :)

    Kathleen - I'm going to look up your variety. There are so many pretty choices. I bet yours is very pretty and I hope you'll share pictures of it in bloom. Especially since you take such beautiful ones!

    Tina - They really all are so pretty, it's hard to choose one.

    Cinj - I thought the bi-color was very interesting, I hadn't really seen one quite like this before. I bet you could find a nice spot for it! :)

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  10. Catherine:
    OMG.... attending a plant show and only making one purchase!!!! How did you manage that!!!
    The paeonia looks wonderful..... I perfer the singles but this one reminds me of the one my Grandmother grew.... such happy memories. Good luck, and keep us posted with follow-up posts of it's progress!

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  11. That's the one I have- it's beautiful! You'll love it :)

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  12. That certainly looks like a beautiful Peony. I hope it performs well for you. Here in our zone peonies don't perform as well. I'll just have to enjoy yours.

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  13. Teza - It was so overwhelming it was hard to choose. I hope to get a surprise bloom, but most likely I'll be showing it next summer.

    Tessa - Good, I'm glad to hear it's beautiful. It's hard to know sometimes how accurate the description is.
    Maybe you'll share a picture if you have one?

    Susie - Well you probably can grow some beautiful things there that we can't :) It's fun to see what can grow in other places, and be able to enjoy them that way.

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  14. I love peonies! Too bad they don't have a longer bloom season, and around here they seem to flop over even when it doesn't rain. But the blooms are delicious, even when they're not named for dessert! I've heard that they won't bloom if planted too deeply, maybe that's Gardeness's problem. Or like you said, Catherine, new and transplanted peonies are supposed to sleep, creep and leap the first 3 years. VW

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  15. VW - It would be nice if they bloomed longer, at least their blooms are so pretty they are worth having. I've heard the same thing about planting depth. I practically brought a ruler with me so I was sure to do it correctly :)

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  16. I love peonies and have several that have very rich deep red flowers which are glorious, but they do droop very quickly. Your sorbet looks gorgeous - I may have to fins room for some more peonies!

    How on earth did you manage to not buy more at a show?! I'm like a child in a sweet shop when I get to a show, I'm hopeless!

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  17. Wow! That is a yummy one. Can't wait to see future photos! And you are so right about peonies and rain. Every year mine get swamped and I vow to put in supports "next year", but I still haven't done it. Maybe this year...

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  18. Nutty Gnome - There were so many choices and I had my 2 year old with me. Both made it hard to make decisions :) There's always room for one more plant :)

    Donna - My other peony flopped the first 2 years it bloomed til I finally remembered to get a support. I'm going to get the grid type this time so the plant can grow through it. They seem to work better than the ring ones.

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  19. Ooh la la. That is a stunner. I love the color combination and the ruffled texture. With its generous root system I surmise you will have a bloom or two this May.

    Congrats for the restraint. I like having a wish list. It kind of keeps me grounded when so much temptation is forcing me into mental orbit.

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  20. Grace - Thank you! Oh I hope you're right. I'd love to get a sneak preview of what's to come future spring!
    I'm kind of the same way with wish lists. It does help to prevent too much impulse buying too.

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  21. That is one of my favorite peonies. You will love it. It looks really healthy.

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  22. Phillip - I can't wait to see it. The lady helping me found the biggest one they had :)

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  23. Oh yum! How wonderful and pretty it will be. I have three that are "new" from last year from our garden club flower sale. They we're just labeled red, white and pink... can't wait to see what they do this year.

    You made a good investment, peony plant will last forever and can be divided I hear.

    Hugs....Brooke

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  24. That's the prettiest bloom I've ever seen--good for you. It was worth the wait.

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