Sarah Bernhardt Peony

Double Peonies

| Flower Roberts

These three hybrids are the best bloomers. Strong stems are a must. I missed staking the stems before a storm, so some ended up soaked on the ground. I will put circles in place earlier next spring to prevent this.


Karl Rosenfield has dozens of blooms on each plant. There are also multiple blooms per stem.

Karl Rosenfield peony



Sarah Bernhardt is slow to open. But the buds are gorgeous.

Sarah Bernhardt peony


Duchess de Nemour has slightly asymmetrical blooms.

Duchess de Nemours

This last hot pink p double is from my great grandma Pearson’s farm in Ohio. It now belongs to four generations of my family.

Pearson peony

I put some beside my mama’s pink urn at her memorial service this weekend. It felt right to have those flowers with Mama for her service.

Pearson family peony with Mama’s urn.

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After a Rain

| Flower Roberts

It rained last night. I love mornings in the garden after it has been refreshed by rain. The plants look so appreciative and perky.
Here are a few photos of my favorites sprinkled with sparkling drops.

Moonscene Amaryllis
Night Affair iris
Daphne de Nemours peony
Spider’s Web Fatsia

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Karl, Sarah and the Duchess

| Flower Roberts

I went away for a few days. There was a storm which dropped almost 2.5 inches of rain on my garden while I was gone.

The timing was bad for my big bloomers. I circle the garden with stakes every day I am home… but I was gone.

Big blooms do not fare well in heavy rain and wind. There were heads bent down and blooms on the ground. The double peonies had the most damage.

Karl Rosenfield was full of big floppy blooms that had to be gently shaken and supported.

Sarah Bernhardt only had a few blooms again this year. A move is in her future. I have mulched, fed and watered without much progress on her part.

Sarah Bernhardt peony

The Duchess de Nemours is thriving in her prime spot. She lost many blooms with buds on the same stalks.

Duchess de Nemours peony

I love double peonies but they do require extra support, especially in rain and wind. The doubles are worth the trouble.

Karl Rosenfield peony

They are the stars of May.

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The Beauty of Sarah B.

| Flower Roberts

Sarah is beautiful all the time, from bud to bloom, in any light.

I don’t know how she does it. I guess that’s why she is famous.

She seems delicate, but powerful.

Her bud is like a glass marble, her bloom like a floating taffeta tutu.

Sarah Bernhardt peony

Whoever named this peony named her well, Sarah Bernhardt.

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Double Trouble

| Flower Roberts

I am a sucker for those heavy, double blooms. I love them despite their neediness.

Duchess de Nemours peony

They are the over-achiever flowers. They need extra care because they go for broke blooming.

Double bloom of Bill Troutman’s poppies

Rain wreaks havoc on them. Their poor little heads bow down with the water weight.

Duchess de Nemours peony

They need staking and shaking.

Sarah Bernhardt peony

Who can resist such extravagance?

My great grandma Pearson’s pink peony from Ohio

I will shake and stake every spring because these doubles are irresistible.

Karl Rosenfield peony

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Sarah’s Grand Entrance

| Flower Roberts

Sarah waits patiently while the other peonies finish their performance.

Sarah Bernhardt peony

Her buds have been on hold for the signal to start.

Then they all open almost simultaneously.

They start in attire of white with taffy edges.

The petals slip into a ballet slipper pink as the blooms open.

She is worth the wait.

Sarah Bernhardt is the star of my garden.

Sarah Bernhardt takes a bow.

Bravo!

Flower

When Sarah Blooms

| Flower Roberts

Peony season ends with Sarah, Sarah Bernhardt that is.

Her buds appear as large marbles on the ends of long stems.

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The blooms open as delicate pink which makes me think of ballerinas.

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The blooms are heavy and must be supported in case of a shower.

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Sarah’s performance in the garden is last,

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ending peony season with a flourish of pink.

A good actress always ends with a flourish!

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The Burden of Beauty

| Flower Roberts

I love my single Peonies.

Krinkled White peony

I love their floppy petals and their dusty yellow centers.

But I adore the doubles.

Beauty can be a burden.

These blooms need staking.

They must be shaken lightly after rain to prevent broken stems.

Sarah Bernhardt Peony

I marvel at the loveliness of all those clustered petals.

Duchess de Nemours Peony

Oh, the burden of beauty!

Poor peonies.

Flower