Yes!! We have peonies for the weekend (WHEW!). It's been touch and go for the early peonies to bloom this season; but, they are coming along. The cool, wet spring delayed the start by about 5 to 6 days; then we had two days of heat to warm things up. We are still in the early season, with mid-season peonies just starting to show color.
We will have Coral Charm peonies for Mother's Day, as well as an assortment of mixed peony arrangements in vases and bouquets for purchase at the farm - rain or shine.
The Itoh (intersectional) peonies are starting to peak out of their sepals - Magical Mystery Tour, Callie's Memory, Julia Rose and others are either sporting a few blossoms or about to dazzle us in the next days. Lemon Chiffon and Prairie Moon, the two big, fluffy yellows are teasing us; and, I have even cut a few open blossoms for bouquets. So many varieties are just waiting for the right moment to pop open.
While we will have cuts for Mothers Day, we still are in the very early bloom stage, with much more to come in the next weeks. I anticipate our peak bloom will be after May 20th this year. With the weather fluctuating, it's anyone's guess at this point.
Our iris garden is starting to fill with fragrant blossoms and the 'wild wisteria' is in full bloom - alluring visitors to return for the sole purpose of seeing it again this year. It's an amazing backdrop for photos.
Drop by the farm to see what's in bloom or to pick up a peony plant or bouquet. Bring your friends and delight them with a visit to Brooks Gardens. After 17 years, we are still touched to hear first time visitors express such delight at 'finding this hidden gem' tucked at the end of Topaz Street. A woman who visited for the first time last year, returned the other day and brought her friend, who stood in the iris garden and exclaimed "I have never, ever in my life been in such a place as this - it is so beautiful and amazing".
Stop by and be amazed. For those of you who can't make it to the farm, you can order peony roots online for fall planting and grow your own dazzling garden.
Therese
Directions: Brooks Gardens (Brooks, Oregon) is the hidden peony farm & iris garden just north of Brooks/Salem, Oregon at 6219 Topaz Street NE, Brooks, OR 97305. From I-5 take exit 263; drive one mile east to Brooks; turn left (north) onto 99 E; one mile to Topaz Street. Follow the purple Peonies & Iris signs.
From Woodburn, drive about six miles south on 99 E to Topaz Street. We are about 40 minutes south of Portland, Oregon; 30 minutes south of Canby and Wilsonville.