When are all The Peony Fields in bloom at once?
As we wait (im)patiently for the beginning of peony season, there are some misconceptions we ought to clear up. One of them is the idea that all 6000 peony plants at The Peony Fields are ever blooming at the same time.
That would be a sight to behold, but in reality, it doesn't happen. There are over 50 varieties of peony at The Peony Fields, and although the entire bloom season is only about four weeks long, none of the varieties bloom for anywhere near that amount of time. One variety will burst into bloom, flower its heart out for a week or so, and then fade as other varieties take the stage. It's quite a performance, but it's not a chorus line. So what does happen?
Act I: Corals
Always, reliably, our coral varieties make their appearance first. We have hundreds of coral plants, of four varieties: Coral Sunset, Coral Charm, Coral Supreme, and Pink Hawaiian Coral. All four varieties bloom early, and then are gone for another year. In the photo above, you see four rows of Pink Hawaiian Coral that make a spectacular early show. What that means is, if corals are your peony love, you'll need to plan a visit to The Peony Fields the first week that we're open. We'll probably open around April 18, depending on bloom.
Act II: Yellow, Blush, and White
The first week of the season and the last are really the only ones that are so strictly a certain color. After the corals come early yellows, blushes, and whites. By the middle and end of this week we're getting into midseason, which is when most of our varieties bloom. Crowd favorite 'Do Tell' joins us early this week.
Act III: Mixed
This is what you may hear referred to as "peak week". That doesn't mean that everything is in top bloom, but that the largest number of varieties will be blooming this week. Pinks, whites, reds, and everything in between is blooming this week. Some favorites that show up this week are the blood-red Henry Bockstoce, the pure white Bowl of Cream, pink Sarah Bernhardt, and the candy pink Monsieur Jules Elie.
Act IV: Big Pink Ladies
Just when we think the season is ending, there's a round of big, late pinks. We don't have fields and fields of these, because the way our spring can turn into summer suddenly makes their blooming uncertain. Usually we're lucky, and these frilly luscious confections round out the last week of peony season for the year. In the vase above are Jacorma, Lady Orchid, Pillow Talk, and Nancy Nora. These ladies are usually blooming the second week of May or so.
What's a visitor to do?
So what to do when the peony kaleidoscope is going to shift from week to week? If you live close enough, I definitely recommend a season pass. Then you can visit several times and see the changing rainbow over the season. If visiting The Fields is a once-a-season event for you, pick your favorite week, keep your eye on the Peony Watch cam, and visit us when you can. The peonies will be here, waiting for you.
See you in the spring,
Erin