Peony Show at the Keukenhof Castle 2009

[Arykana]

I looking up the forums and found this! NOw I have to found place for more peony

[Armin]

Luit,
what fanatastic, colourful plant species.
It is just pity I don't have enough space in the garden...

[steve owen]

I've been to Keukenhof Gardens three times and had no idea there was this feast of paeonies across the road (though presumably not at the same time as I was looking at tulips and narcissi).

Can anyone point me to any really good growing displays of paeonies in the UK? Does the new Kelways have a display garden, for example?

[David Nicholson]

........... Does the new Kelways have a display garden, for example?

Not as such Steve. They do have a field in which are planted a lot of the old Peony varieties and this is open to the public. See http://www.kelways.co.uk/useful_information/peony_valley/6/

I went in 2008 and was very disappointed as the weed growth in the field topped some of the Peonies and many of the varieties were not named. Additionally many of the Irises in the Plant centre were not worth buying. I did write to Kelways and complained and said they would not dare to sell mail order the quality of plants in stock in the plant centre This year the field was a little better but not much, and the plants in the plant centre were just as bad!

[steve owen]

David

Well, that's surprising and disappointing especially for such an illustrious name nursery. I thought they were still exhibiting at the big shows and winning medals - maybe I'm out of date.

I'd better stop being lazy and get the RHS Plantfinder out and see if there are any other major UK growers who have paeonia displays in season.

Talking about displays in season, Ayletts in Hertfordshire has a peerless display of Dahlias at this time of year. The display field is about two miles from the Ayletts garden centre - see www.aylettnurseries.co.uk/ for details. Their annual dahlia festival is coming up; 11-20 September. No connection disclaimer, they're just a class grower.

[David Nicholson]

David

Well, that's surprising and disappointing especially for such an illustrious name nursery. I thought they were still exhibiting at the big shows and winning medals - maybe I'm out of date.

I'm sure they are Steve but it's not going to be with the standard oif plant they were selling in the Plant Centre. I have to say that I have never ordered from Kelways so I can not speak for the quality of the plants they send out by mail order.