Peony work-to-learn party set for Saturday

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Explore the world of peonies at the next “Work to Learn” Party, set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 27, held at the Sequim Botanical Garden near the bandshell at Carrie Blake Community Park.

Hosted by the Sequim Botanical Garden Society, this event sees presenter Gail Ditmore offer a talk and demonstration about the care and growing of peonies through 3 p.m.

“I am just an average gardener learning as I go by trial and error like most people do,” Ditmore said. “I am certainly no expert! I have had the joy of planting peonies through the years, my favorite being the Sarah Bernhardt.”

Ditmore Gail will have an informative handout with general care and handling of peonies to give out during the presentation.

Besides their spectacular flowers in a palette that ranges from white to yellow to pink to magenta, peony foliage is unusual with its deeply lobed leaves which last from spring until frost, event organizers note. They are long-lived perennials that are easy to care for and provide a wonderful focus in a yard. The early blooming peony varieties should have open flowers by then.

Those interested in adding peonies to their yards can show your support through donations to the society’s “Peonies for New Plants” fundraising effort. Society volunteers will be available at the garden from 1-3 p.m. on three Saturdays — May 27, June 17 and June 24 — to accept pre-orders to reserve peonies for fall delivery and donation. The special peonies that are available for the fundraiser will be marked with tags.

The garden group has a large number of peony plants that are available for donations ranging from $5-$10 and up. The pickup-and-donate date is likely to be Oct. 28, society members said.

The Sequim Botanical Garden Society is a volunteer partner with the City of Sequim and a 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides information and a visual demonstration of what can be done in home gardening with research-based horticultural practices at the Terrace Garden.

For more information, contact the society president Dona Brock at BROCKDL88@gmail.com or 360-460-8865. Or, visit fb.me/SequimBotanicalGarden or SequimBotanicalGarden.org.