one of my favorite places to hike can be found right in the center of ann arbor, a place where i always return, the nichols arboretum. it’s a lovely, quiet, sweeping park where there is natural beauty to be found in any season. one of the most stunning displays is the blooming of the peony garden. unlike any i have ever seen.
the nichols arboretum peony garden is the largest public collection of historic (pre-1950) herbaceous peony cultivars in north america. the university and botanical gardens are currently in the process of rebuilding this historic garden to be an internationally significant, scientifically-documented and culturally interpreted living reference collection.
the garden, open since 1927, boasts more than 270 historic varieties of peony, cultivated in the 19th and early 20th centuries. nearly 800 plants are arranged in 27 beds at the arboretum’s peony garden, drawing flower lovers from across the region when they bloom each spring.
- note – early morning and evening are when the peony fragrances are best.
—
“flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful;
they are sunshine, food and medicine for the soul.”
-luther burbank
Not only beautiful flowers, but beautiful people who want to share this with the world.
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🌸🌸🌸
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😀
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My favorite flower! I must put the Nichols Arboretum on my list of places to visit. Thanks for sharing!
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You will love it.)
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Beautiful!
>
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They are )
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Oh the memories…I had a BEAUTIFUL peony that grew at the corner of our property, down by the electrical box that we shared with our neighbor. One early Spring I came home to see he had “cleaned up” the area and mulched it…that’s right, my dormant peony was chopped up and tossed in the trash with the weeds.. at least it died in it’s sleep- haha…😫 (Yes, we are still great friends)
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Oh, how sad –
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Absolutely amazing, Beth. I am a huge fan of this flower, as you know.
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You and Karen would live this display )
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Beautiful!
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🌸
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Peonys are so lovely and smell so sweet. It must be great walking through them! We got one in my mum’s garden!
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They are powerful in many ways
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Amazing!
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How beautiful! I have one peony bush in the back yard. Every year right after it starts blooming we get a hard rain, which decimates the flowers.
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It is a sad moment but worth it –
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What a gorgeous garden! Do they bloom about the same time each year? My peonies have already finished up, but you’re farther north. Ann Arbor’s within driving distance. I’d make the trip to see that many peonies in bloom.
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hi judy – yes, they do. generally the end of may through mid-june, depending on the weather. it is lovely and worth a drive, though you’ll have to get here soon, if you’re planning on coming this year. they are beginning to wind down )
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Thanks for the info. I’m putting it on my calendar for next spring.
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Wonderful
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amazing post and beautiful flower as well
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they are so beautiful, anyone who sees them would love them –
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Arboretum are the most lovely places to spend time. Peonies don’t grow here – they look lovely
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yes, they are always magical places )
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That looks like a great place to go petaling, Beth.
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))
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I’ve always resisted Peonies as I grew up listening to my mum say they were very fussy and easily upset. I might have to rethink that and give them a chance.
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tric, i have been able to grow peonies, and if i haven’t accidentally killed them, no one can. you are all set.
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This was a lovely place to visit, Beth. I like your helpful hint about best time for fragrance to waft towards our noses! 🙂
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it was such a pretty way to start off the day
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I like peonies but have never had them due to the ants they attract. My Mom said they have a symbiotic relationship where the ants help open the green leafy outer layer. (Or so my memory of a long ago gardening talk with her! 🙂 )
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your mom is exactly right and one of my children’s book ideas )
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Oh, this would be cool, how the flowers and ants depend on each other and how pretty it would be, Beth. 💮 🐜 🌸
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the old man next door when I was growing up loved his PIE-oh-nies…his pronunciation!
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so funny
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Love that!!
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I would love visiting this garden.
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It is amazing
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Gorgeous! (That other picture of the muddy hands, on the other hand, made me cringe.) Glad I’m ending on this on instead. 🙂
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hah – glad the order worked out )
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