IT is like a sea of peonies! So beautiful Liz! Someday I hope to visit Klemn Song Sparrow nursery. They offer such a great and eclectic selection of plants and peonies. I also admire Roy Klemn's peony cultivars and would love to see all that he has grown on his farm.

Wow Liz!!!
What a great trip you are having. Thanks for checking out Tinka. Bummer that no one sells it.
I can't wait to see more photos.
I wish the APS would enter the modern age and post lots of photos on their FB page.
The Swedish peony Society FB page posts at least a dozen a day.
Thanks for doing all of this for us!!

I don't know why they aren't posting lots of pics, we've certainly seen some gorgeous flowers and gardens. Solaris Farms was amazing! I think most of the pics I took were of seedlings and trees. Here are a few

And these are from the privately owned gardens.

Liz, I drove pass Sissons garden tonight and captured the newly blooming Tinka Philips:

LizinElizabeth said:Sissons Garden is in the middle of a neighborhood. One of the local members of the Wisconsin Peony Society said it was just a mowed field for years, that no one knew there were peonies until it was left unmoved for a while. That discovery was followed by a period of trying to find out who actually owned the land before it was finally established as a public garden. We toured another member's garden then walked down the road and through someone's yard to get to it, it appears,to be completely surrounded by private property. There were some lovely peonies in both gardens but I was disappointed to see that Tinka Philips, a veaiety that LG and I have wanted for a few years, wasn't in bloom yet. Even more disappointing was being told that even here locally the members knew of no one who sells it. Guess I'll just have to hope to see it on one of the peony society's auctions or something. Below is a few pics from both Betty's and Sisson Gardens.

Thanks littlebin! Isn't that a really pretty garden? And to think it was almost lost, that it was mowed short every spring and no one even knew the plants were there for several years... As for Tinka, after opening that slight edging of white is supposed to get a bit broader. The pics of it that made me want it were posted in Pinterest and made it look very interesting. Was the flower very large?

We're deviating from the peony tours today. My SIL wants to do a cheese tour since we're in WI! So we're looking for a place that at least has an observation room.... Not something I would've thought of but it should be interesting! And I'm sure we'll get samples so it'll be worth the trip! Then back here to see the competition blooms and displays this afternoon! More pictures of beautiful peonies!

I would like to obtain that first pink and white one.
When you have time----does it have a name?
Thanks for including us on your peony adventure!

The flower of Tinka is not large, maybe only half the size of the
large 'red charm' at the garden entrance. I never saw so beautiful of 'red charm'.

Enjoy ur trip and post more photos.

LizinElizabeth said:Thanks littlebin! Isn't that a really pretty garden? And to think it was almost lost, that it was moved short every spring and no one even knew the plants were there for several years... As for Tinka, after opening that slight edging of white is supposed to get a bit broader. The pics of it that made me want it were posted in Pinterest and made it look very interesting. Was the flower very large?

We're deviating from the peony tours today. My SIL wants to do a cheese tour since we're in WI! So we're looking for a place that at least has an observation room.... Not something I would've thought of but it should be interesting! And I'm sure we'll get samples so it'll be worth the trip! Then back here to see the competition blooms and displays this afternoon! More pictures of beautiful peonies!

Hi Caroline, all of those had numbers still, no names. Nate said they were all at least 3 years from sales. I do have all of the seedling numbers saved with the pics when they were available, I'll match them up and repost those with the number when I get home. Think I'm up to around 800 pics now, will be well over 1000 by tonight!

We appreciate what you are doing.
There is plenty of time to identify particular plants,---
next winter when it is cold and miserable outside.
Enjoy your trip!

Thanks Caroline, I did enjoy it! Yesterday was the competition then the annual dinner and auction. I bid on several peonies, won 4! Took almost 300 pics of competition flowers, they're on my phone right now, I'll move them to my computer and post them when I get home.

So how many peonies do you think will fit in the back of a Nissan Versa? I can tell you 22 without using the front seats!

Simply WOW !

Who knew Liz?

I was sweating the last 2, Tracey! Went back to Scenic View Landscape because I thought there were a couple of tree peonies that I loved during the Solaris tour that I remembered seeing there, ended up getting 5 more. Got Teresa Anne, Black Panther and one I'll never be able to pronounce the name of, Terpsichore. Also Golden Experience and can't remember the last nor can I find the receipt right now. This trip was the best peony experience I've ever had, so much better than the Ohio one because of the tours (there were no tours in OH). Next one will be in Raleigh NC, then in Oregon 2018. I'm going to try to go to those if possible, we'll see!

LG, I stopped by Sesson's Garden and looked at TInka again, that one's off my wanted list now. It wasn't blooming when we were there Thursday, littlebin got a pic on Friday and they're already looking really bad today. They never made it to that beautiful stage shown on the Pinterest pic we both saw. I'll post the sad, dying bloom pic if you want to see it but it's just on my camera right now.

Oh my goodness! How do you manage to fit so many in that tiny space? How many did you get? That is definitely a nice stash of tree peonies. Liz!

WOW, Liz
Add 22 peonies to your collection, you have a great peony year ahead of you. It looks like you had a lot of fun with this trip.

Conventions where there are actual peony farms to view are the best. Wisconsin has its climate challenges but you can also see what does well in the north, who stands up after a downpour and who can take the heat without melting, all important attributes.

The list made at a field tour differ so much from a catalog and a "pretty face". I'm also able to test them for fragrance, which is one of my favorite characteristics.

Having limited space and budget, these experiences in the fields in the north are worthwhile. If any of you have an opportunity to tour a peony field, in your climate zone especially,
I recommend it. Bring your notebook and camera!

Wow, Liz, Wow! That is what my car would look like if I had been there, too. You will have to post a complete list.
Glad to know Tinka Phillips is a dud. I will get over her now.
What did you think of the winner of best seedling, a cross between Pastelelegance and Old Faithful? It looked beautiful on FB.
Can't wait to see your photos as my peonies are done.

That seedling looked amazing in the field!