We are back after a one year hiatus! Hopefully the squabbles about where the trail can and can not go are settled this year. The walk is slated for this Saturday, May 31 but I went up there with my camera last Friday to get some pictures. I found that just this one week head start made a big difference in how things looked. The bearded irises were in much better shape, in fact this was the peak of tall bearded iris season.

As usual I walked the perimeter of the beds snapping just about everything that was in good shape. It rained lightly the whole time so I was juggling an umbrella with one hand and camera with the other. The overcast sky was a big advantage for taking photographs though. Much less of that sunny glare in the photos! Peonies, companion plants, garden art and landscaping were all fair game... I captured at least some of everything. Enjoy !

Here is one of the many scenic views.


Peonies Lady Alexandra Duff, Shirley Temple and Cora Louise


Heuchera Key Lime Pie, Peony Mother's Choice


Some of the beautiful lupines! If I had waited until this coming Saturday the stalks would not have been near as nice!


Peony Shawnee Chief


Peonies Touch of Class, Sonoma Sun and Scarlet Heaven


Some garden art, first with bright backlighting then with more detail. I thought this was so cool!


Peonies Hot Chocolate, Command Performance and Belleville


The very beautiful water feature.


Peony Minnie Shaylor (I liked the center of this one)


Some more Lady Alexandra Duff in a different area of the garden:


Peonies Many Happy Returns, Gay Paree, and White Frost


Peonies Showgirl and Angel Cheeks; Alchemilla mollis with alliums


I loved this garden art.



Peony Summer Glow changes as the blooms mature.


Peony Rozella


Peony Brother Chuck. Visiting a peony garden in the rain gives a pretty good idea of which ones hold up and which ones are losers .


My visit to Adelman's Peony display garden concludes with a few more garden views. I hope you enjoyed the tour!

My question is, are you trying to increase Adelman's sales? Your pictures are beautiful. 'Summer Glow' looks like one I might want. But then I remember peonies at Adelman's look better than any peonies I have ever seen The year I went to the peony show here in WI, I was stunned and amazed at Carol's peony arrangements. The colors on familiar peonies were shocking.

Thanks for letting us take a walk with you. I love seeing the many many beauties. One day I have to get out there and walk with you.

I don't know much about peonies but I think they like growing here. They like the soil and like the climate. Needless to say it was very colorful there. I was supposed to meet up with other walkers and "wheel" the distance for the 5K walk in the growing fields. Never saw them there. I went early and stayed an hour. I guess I will find out Saturday when I man the checkpoint at Sebright Hosta garden. I'll take my camera!

it's will-am-it, damn it!

I have a daughter in Bend. I was visiting a couple of years ago when I was told how to pronounce Willamette:)

We took a wine tour of the region.

Looks like I need to arrange a Peony tour.

Great photos!

I moved here in 1974 and it took years to learn the pronounciations of all the places around here. There are still some I am not sure about. Really, unless you hear a local speak the language you never really know! "Willamette" is one that took me a while!

That was a wonderful tour, thank you for sharing. Brother Chuck tends to attract me and I've considered buying it in the past, but not after seeing that pic lol, so thank you for that, too ;)

Interesting... Brother Chuck is in their 2014 catalog. Fairly new as peonies go, 1995. Hybridized by R. Klehm and APS Best of Show in 2008. But in the garden it sure doesn't look like a strong plant. Maybe it is preferred by people who enter their peonies in juried shows. The blooms may be excellent for that purpose but certainly looks like it needs staking in windy/wet weather.

I went through many of the peony gardens in Oregon a few years ago. Missed the walk. It rained fairly heavily while walking through Adelman's but after flying 2500 miles to see them I didn't let that deter me. Walked and snapped pictures just as you did. Also went to Schreiner's gardens. I believe it was the end of May when we went, maybe first of June.

Around the last week of May is the very best time here-- peak bloom for irises and peonies. The Salem volkswalk club sponsored a walk through Schreiners on May 17, just a tad early for peak bloom but I'm sure the earlier irises were blooming. In fact my own tall beardeds seemed to start a little early this year. Unfortunately I missed that walk, I bet it was really nice.

Thank you for taking the time to post these photos, Connie!

My pleasure!