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Item Barcode | Collection | Call Number | Status | Item Holds |
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| 33607003316679 | Adult Nonfiction | 635.9 MICHENE | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
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Summary
Summary
"A luscious and colorful immersion into the world of the peony." -- Petal Talk
The bold blooms, pretty colors, and heady fragrances of peonies make them one of the most popular flowers, both in gardens and floral arrangements. Peony --by leading experts David Michener and Carol Adelman--makes it easier than ever to grow them home. This lush book shares the history of the plant, explores the different types available, and includes complete growing information for 194 of the best varieties. Helpful lists detail the best peonies for specific needs.
Author Notes
David C. Michener is an associate curator at the University of Michigan, including the Peony Garden at the Nichols Arboretum, where he oversees the rejuvenation of the largest public collection of historic herbaceous peonies in North America.
Carol A. Adelman is the founder of Peony Paradise-Adelman Peony Gardens near Salem, Oregon. She and her husband grow 484 varieties of peonies. Carol is on the board of directors for the American Peony Society, is the president of the Pacific North West Peony Society, and is the charter organizer of the Salem Hardy Plant Society.
Reviews (2)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Michener and Adelman, an arboretum plant curator and grower-seller respectively, share their expertise on the heavenly scented garden beauty known as the peony and its varieties. Around a quarter of the guide is taken up by general material about the flower, giving gardeners a vocabulary to understand and describe peony types and features. The bulk of the book consists of closeup color photos of luscious peony blossoms and information about almost 200 varieties of bush, tree, and intersectional varieties. The authors are passionate about their peonies, and tend to understate potential downsides of the flower; for instance, gardeners need to plan for a spectacular but short bloom season and months of green foliage, a topic that could be more fully presented. The closeup photos are gorgeous but give no sense of total plant proportions. That said, even knowledgeable gardeners will find new tips to improve what they already grow and love. Color photos. (Dec.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Library Journal Review
Michener (associate curator, -Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum, Univ. of Michigan) and -Adelman (founder, Peony Paradise-Adelman Peony Gardens, Salem, OR) present a handsome volume on the history and -growing techniques of one of the world's most voluptuous flowers. Introductory chapters trace the illustrious history of the flower through various countries and how thousands of varieties have been lost to history. The different categories of peonies (there are five) are covered, as well as how to identify the various flower types. A chapter on growing them covers such aspects as how to use peonies in the garden, lists of companion plants to consider, growing conditions, and cutting. Individual portraits of 194 varieties feature vivid descriptions and characteristics. A resource guide is provided for both plants and cut flowers and a list of public gardens in Canada, the UK, and the United States. VERDICT A great introduction for gardeners interested in growing peonies and a guide for experienced growers looking for newer varieties to add to their collections.-Phillip Oliver, formerly with Univ. of North Alabama, Florence © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Excerpts
Excerpts
Introduction Peonies are stunningly beautiful, easy to grow, relatively carefree, and adaptable to any garden style. They are a favorite flower everywhere they can be grown and for good reason: the heady fragrances and enchanting colors of a peony-rich garden can evoke memories, capture an enchanted moment, and represent hope, friendship, romance, or gracious hospitality. Wherever winters are cold enough for peonies, gardeners have grown plants that have been shared with them or passed down among generations as treasured living family heirlooms. With their colors, fragrances, and forms, the cut flowers combine well in bouquets. Peonies simply have no rival in their season. Peonies blossom in a wide variety of colors and shapes. Their color range encompasses every tint from pure white through myriad pinks to the deepest reds and rich, complex chocolate tones. Almost every shade is represented except for blue and black, though now some blossoms approach those shades, as with the dazzling deep lavenders of 'Lavender Hill' and 'Sonoma Amethyst'. To add to the fun and depending on the cultivar, individual peony flowers may retain the same color from start to finish, or they may begin as one color and either fade or darken to another related color. Some selections are bicolored, and, more rarely seen, tricolored. Contemporary breeders are even providing gardeners with new striped peonies such as 'Candy Stripe'--truly distinctive treasures. The individual flower shapes, which are called forms, can be as simple as a wild rose or so petal-stuffed that it is hard to imagine how all the petals ever fit in the bud, with many variations in between. A bouquet of peonies, or even a single stem, can enhance any occasion. For floral designers, these blossoms offer much variation in visual texture and form, with petal edges that can be smooth, ruffled, or notched. Petals can be arranged in many configurations, from a single row to a tightly packed multitude. Peonies easily combine with accent flowers and foliage. Their long, strong stems provide stature and the huge petals easily define luxury. Peonies are frequently used as event flowers as they have an enduring vase life of seven to ten days from bud that can be controlled by heat and light. They are a popular favorite in wedding bouquets and have earned that honor not only for their luxurious sheen and huge size, but also for colors that blend harmoniously with any setting. From the several thousand selections currently available, we've chosen nearly two hundred of the best plants for garden and vase. Our goal in this book is to provide the information you need to grow these magnificent peonies with confidence, to create stunning garden scenes, and to enjoy your peonies as cut flowers. Peonies can do so much in the garden and with such little effort on the gardener's part that they should be considered whenever a gardener wonders about what plant would best complement a particular spot. Excerpted from The Peony: The Best Varieties for Your Garden by David C. Michener, Carol A. Adelman All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.