In Praise of Paeonies

Many of us have treasured plants in our gardens which are living memories.  My ‘Mossmoran’ paeony was rescued by my husband from the farmhouse garden just before it was bulldozed and gas plant construction started. I think it is a species, a single shocking pink colour with a large boss of golden stamens and it is perfumed. It has had several homes around the garden, never sulks when moved and even if a tiny bit is left, it grows.  It was in a bed under the front window, before we decided to gravel that area. Everything was lifted, weed membrane put down and then gravel. In tiny gaps between the membrane and the wall, it appeared the following year and looked beautiful. It is never fed and is in a very dry sunny position, all I do is tidy up the dead leaves in winter. It has been there for 30 years . It is a real survivor.

In 1980, my Mum and I w to the Royal Highland Show, where there was a plant marquee. She ordered me four herbaceous paeonies and one tree paeony from Kelways. (They cost more than my housekeeping for a week, so weren’t cheap. ) They arrived in the autumn and I duly planted them. Their varieties are long forgotten but every year since, I have delighted in their young foliage appearing in spring , the incredible growth they make, their buds appearing then the blooms. The tree paeony has had up to 40 dinner plate sized blooms annually. Even after the flowers are gone the foliage holds its own amongst the other stars in the border and when they’re eventually cut back , I know they will be back next year.  As I write this I’m reminded of my lovey Mum whose 100th birthday would be tomorrow, 21/6/2001. Thanks for the memories Mum.

Anne Carlaw

(Anne Carlaw is  keen gardener, a member of the Caley Council and Chairperson of The Scottish Society Botanical Artists)