Announcements
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Heartland Peony and the University of
Michigan
“Japanese Tree Peonies to Enhance Peony
Garden Specially
ordered Japanese tree peonies arrived earlier this year following some complicated
coordination with the Kansas-based Heartland Peony Society and the customs
office. After some TLC at the Gardens they await spring 2014 planting on the
south slope of the Peony Garden as part of the rejuvenation plan for the
garden. Articulating the complete, global story of peonies is an important
piece of the Nichols Arboretum Peony Garden, and to do that we needed
authentic period peonies from several cultures, including Japan, China and
Korea. The recent arrivals show the range of colors and forms of Japanese
tree peonies that were available pre-1950. As we fill in the gaps in the
story of peonies we continue to seek herbaceous historic peonies from Japan,
not just “Japanese” style herbaceous peonies that were popular in Western
culture from the 1880s on." Further
along in the newsletter there is a celebration of a recent gift from the
Upjohn Family Foundation to restore and protect the historic peony garden,
the largest heirloom peony display in North America. The collection began with
a donation from the Upjohn company in 1927 of 270 different peony varieties.
The current gift of $500,000 is the largest endowment in the history of the
garden and arboretum. Member of HPS may recall that Dr. David Michener, Associate Curator of the garden and arboretum, gave a most interesting public presentation a few years ago. There is small committee that assists the University gardens in this peony project that includes HPS’s own Don Hollingsworth and Dr. J. Waddick. HPS hopes to continue to provide their educational support and expertise to the garden as the project progresses. |