Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Fern-Leafed Peony From A Friend!

I had a beautiful fern-leaf peony when we lived in North Dakota. We sold the house in April and moved in late May, I had no place to move it to. I had splurged on it, at that time they cost 25 dollars. It was one of those plants that I grieved for.

Not your normal run of the mill peony, the foliage is highly divided..fern like.


The roots only went up in price..I believe they maxed out about 50 dollars for a root. I never wanted to part with that much money for one plant. When we moved here, I discovered a plant at the local cemetery, it adorns the grave of a child who died during a routine surgery. Chance and I visit this plant and this grave and pluck weeds..waiting for exactly the right light to capture this plants beauty.
 I took this photo last year.


Yesterday in the mail I received a very healthy Peonia tenuifolia 'Rubra Plena' root complete with foliage and two buds from Iowa. I don't remember exactly what I told Larry of Larry's Creative Zone,  he had been moving plants from his Mothers house to his house..I probably said "You have a real goldmine there with all those roots..you could sell them and retire in style." or " I am really coveting those roots of yours! " Anyway Larry being the kind generous person he is ..shared with me!!  I am just pleased as punch, I would do a cartwheel if I didn't think I would break a hip. OH, I never was any good at cartwheels anyway so just imagine an old lady standing and clapping in the woods..a standing ovation for Larry!


I planted the root, in the warmest spring spot in our yard..next to the old grain bin. I weeded and everything before I put it in the ground. Thanks Larry! :)

21 comments:

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Golly gee that is gorgeous! I consider myself a plant connoisseur but I have never ever seen a Penoy like this one. That Larry must be quite the guy, what a gift he has given you to enjoy for years to come.

God bless and have a terrific Tuesday!!!

Tami Weingartner said...

Gorgeous! Jealous!

West Side of Straight said...

Good luck with your peony! I had spent too much on one several years ago, and I don't see anything coming up yet, so may not have it this year. It really hasn't done well -but then I haven't babied it either. You have a great green thumb, so I bet yours will do well.

Patsy said...

that is different then I have ever seen they must be rare to cost that much. The flower looks like the color of my new peony.
Patsy

DJan said...

Wow. Double Wow. That is the most beautiful plant, and now I get to watch this one grow and increase in beauty. What a nice thing Larry did, and I must say it's impressive how healthy our blogosphere is, too! People doing nice things for each other, just because!

L. D. said...

I think what it was , is that you didn't go ho-hum about it like a lot of people do when I tell them about this plant. I like the wagon train history of it and I like that it is such an antique in our American history.
I think they must be pretty tough so you might even see those buds bloom. I am sure Minnesota is shuddering from the mixture of that southern Iowa clay to your soil. My three transplants doubled in size in two years. Enjoy. Maybe I need to till the garden and start a shipping business. NOT!!

Rae said...

Lucky you. Isn't this blog world wonderful? We meet the nicest people and Larry is one of them. You are really going to enjoy your new peony. It will be a beautiful addition.

RURAL said...

Oh Connie, I am so enjoying this post, LOL, rather than the previous one. And I guess, next time you say "still time to bail before scrolling down" I should take you at your word. It wasn't earth shatteringly gross, just not what I expected. Giggle. At least it wasn't spiders....

Your Peony, sigh....yes you are very lucky. They are probably in the $100 range here in Canada, oh no wait, the exchange rate is better for us right now, so it is probably around $75.00.

Can you believe that cost? The Royalty should be off by now, and the costs should come down. I do remember my boss being rather upset if one of them died before they sold.

Jen

Linda said...

I have a single one like it and a double one that hasn't bloomed for me yet......I might be sneaking around on a dark night in a couple of years ;)

BLissed-Out Grandma said...

Count me as another peony-lover who has never seen one like that! How great that he shared it with you. It'll take a year or two, but it will be gorgeous, like the one you've been visiting!

Anonymous said...

wow... a serious green thumb methinks
gp

Lynda said...

I don't know which is more attractive - - the flower or our handsome Chance!!! He sure knows how to pose, doesn't he?

Merideth in Wyoming said...

What a beautiful picture of the peony with Chance! You will have to post pictures of your new one as it blooms this summer. How sad they lost their child. I've always been grateful I got to raise my children during the age of modern medicine and not 100 years ago when so many were lost to simple childhood diseases.

laurie said...

that is a great and thoughtful gift. i've never seen a peony like that, and it's lovely.

we have a peony by the side of the house that i bought very cheap because the tag had fallen off and the graden center didn't know what color it is.

turns out it's white, and it blooms next to our white house and doesn't stand out all that well. but i love it anyway. i should get more peonies... they're such big old fashioned lovely things.

LadyFi said...

That is indeed a magnificent plant!

DayPhoto said...

WOW! That is one amazing peony. I have never seen one before.

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

Emma Rose said...

I remember last year when you posted that picture. I got busy trying to find one for my yard. The best I could do was $56.00 plus shipping. YIKES! I had to give up :( That's too much money for a plant I might kill :) But it certainly is beautiful!

The Duchess

Anonymous said...

That is such a unique and beautiful peony and what a nice gift from Larry! It will be fun to watch it grow!

Unknown said...

I love that photo of Chance with those red flowers! It's my favorite picture of him.

Lanny said...

That is just so neat, I am way happy for you and not jealous a bit, and I never lie... much. No, really, that is awesome, good things come to those who wait.

Pamela said...

aaaaaaaaaaw! How nice!