Flowers about

6" Aerial Shell - Red to white Peony

Commercial 6" shell, fired in a mortar tube

Doesn't take expert gardener to grow peonies



His misguided point was that only "experienced" gardeners should attempt to grow finicky peonies in a hot, muggy climate.

His comment was not well received. Ladies jumped to their feet to set the speaker straight.

"My 2-year-old can grow peonies," snapped one lady.

Clearly, the young speaker had stepped in compost up to his keister. Nobody, least of all a group of senior lady gardeners, wants to be told that growing this or that plant is beyond their reach.

The speaker was rattled by the audience reaction. The garden club had invited him to Dallas to hear him speak. Now, suddenly, club members in the estrogen-filled room were prepared to shred and compost him.

The incident occurred long ago. And, yes, I was the brash young speaker. I've since said and written lots of dumb things; but I never again questioned a lady's ability to grow anything, least of all peonies.

white peonies - News


Yellow flowers top gardeners' picks
Yellow flowers top gardeners' picks'Golden Bowl' tree peony: The incredible flowers point to why tree peonies became the favorites of the Greek gods and Japanese emperors.

A weekend for the girls
A weekend for the girls Today's first stop is Lavandula Swiss Italian Farm, just north of Daylesford, where 20 years ago Carol White set to work planting lavender and restoring the and more »

First lady opens up about her first year
First lady opens up about her first year Washington Post peonies and says hello to each of us. First Lady Michelle Obama participates in a roundtable with reporters in the Old Family Dining Room of the White Michelle Obama on why the Obamas don't make it home: Just tell Chicago all 575 news articles »

Brazil Buzz
Come springtime the peonies and well-established Iris will have plenty of elbowroom to spread their wings and bloom. The honeysuckle vine's trumpet-like

Heirlooms are really old friends
Or they can be plants grown for their longevity and dependable flowering, such as day lilies, or fragrance, like old-fashioned varieties of peonies or