Peony 'Coral Sunset'

My peony 'Coral Sunset' is blooming. She is beautiful!

Peony 'Coral Sunset'

The semi-double flowers are a lovely coral pink, with bright yellow stamens in the interior. This herbaceous peony is a hybrid of the Chinese species paeonia lactiflora with a cultivar of the European paeonia officinalis. The officinalis heritage lends it the unusual bright coloration, as well as early bloom time. It blooms together with or just after Japanese tree peonies, before the regular lactifloras have started. There are a variety of coral cultivars (Coral 'n Gold, Coral Charm, Pink Hawaiian Coral, ...) with similar coloring. 'Coral Sunset' is distinguished by having very large flower petals. All are, in my opinion, among the most beautiful herbaceous peonies out there.

Peony 'Coral Sunset'

'Coral Sunset' has a great plant habit, holding its flowers tall and proud, no flopping, even after heavy rain. My plant is just a tiny one-year old - it will get larger and have more blooms with time. It is said to be slightly fragrant, but I can't detect anything worth mentioning.

The deep coral cup-shaped buds are lovely too:

Peony 'Coral Sunset'

As the flower ages, it fades through a progression of soft beigey yellow and cream.

Peony 'Coral Sunset' - slightly sun-faded flower

Peony 'Coral Sunset' - very faded flower

 I think it looks lovely in all its color stages!

Filipendula hexapetala and peony 'Coral Sunset'

Early June Stroll

It's early June and summer-blooming perennials are kicking in. Here is a stroll around the garden...

Polemonium caeruleum (Jacob's Ladder) with Alchemilla mollis (Lady's Mantle)

In my front entry border, blue-flowered Polemonium caeruleum (Jacob's Ladder) is blooming together with Lady's Mantle. The polemonium has been blooming for a couple weeks now, and the Lady's Mantle is just getting started. Still to come later in this area are martagon lilies and yellow foxgloves. The neighboring white alba rose, which was supposed to bloom in a grand yellow-blue-white concert with the others, was damaged severely over the winter by rabbits, and is bouncing back behind a protective cage for now.

Geranium 'Johnson's Blue'

In the patio border, geranium 'Johnson's Blue' is looking nice. It is a bit loose-habited and sprawly, but the finely cut foliage is nice and the large blue flowers are fantastic. I have heard reports that this plant is difficult to grow, especially in areas with hot, humid summers. This is its first year here, so we'll see how it does.

Filipendula hexapetala 'Flore Pleno' (Meadowsweet) with Peony 'Coral Sunset'

Also in this border, filipendula is blooming near my coral peony. I had hoped they would bloom together! The creamy yellow filipendula flowers with their pink buds really complement the peony well. Both are slow-growing, long-lived plants - hopefully the display will increase in magnitude with time as they mature. They peony is already a goddess - a post dedicated all to her is coming soon!

Rosa damascena 'Ispahan', Lemon thyme, Geranium 'Johnson's Blue'

One more view of the patio bed. This area was just planted last year, but it is starting to fill in somewhat. The roses have lots of buds on them!

Tradescantia 'Blue Stone', Sedum 'Angelina'

Across from the patio bed is this raised bed lined with boulders. The deep blue tradescantia has begun blooming here, highlighted by the yellow foliage of the creeping sedum. Some thyme is also blooming on the ground. The large leaved plant on the trellis is a shrubby clematis, which will add starry blue flowers in July.

Geranium x cantabrigiense 'Biokovo'

Quite a few geraniums are blooming throughout the garden. Geranium x cantabrigiense 'Biokovo' is a soft shell pink color in the shade garden. The Strawberry foxgloves behind it should bloom later in the summer.

Geranium macrorrhizum (Bigroot Geranium) 'Bevan's Variety'

Bigroot geranium is blooming under my lilac. This one is the bright magenta 'Bevan's Variety'.

Last of the Tree Peonies

My tree peonies are just winding down. This year the bright 'Luoyang Hong' bloomed first (see my post from last week):

Tree peony 'Luoyang Hong'

About a week later my white and dark red ones began blooming. I was hoping they would all bloom together in one glorious tree peony symphony, but oh well. The white one, 'Xiang Yu' (Fragrant Jade) did at least bloom with this lovely dwarf crested iris by its side:

Tree peony 'Xiang Yu' and iris cristata

In this next photo you can see the red-violet carpels and filaments in the interior of 'Xiang Yu' a bit better. When the plant is older, the flowers will supposedly be fully double, which I guess means the interior will not be as visible. That actually makes me somewhat sad as I think the red and gold center is so striking.

Tree peony 'Xiang Yu'

Just as the dark red tree peony began to open, we had several successive days of heavy rain. The petals got a bit gummy and some of the flowers had trouble opening. Here are some photos I managed to take between rainshowers:

Tree peony 'Wu Jin Yao Hui' (Glittering Black Gold)

I love the deep maroon color of this one, contrasted wtih the gold stamens in the interior.

Tree peony 'Wu Jin Yao Hui'

Farewell until next year, tree peonies! Next it is the herbaceous peonies' turn to bloom...