Paeonia lactiflora collection at New York Botanical Garden – Botanically Inclined

Talking about Papaver bracteatum brought to my mind the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) visited many years ago. I didn’t see this species there, but I used in the shop the featured picture with Papaver orientale (a similar species) taken in the Jane Watson Irwin Perennial Garden (part of NYBG).

So, a good occasion to show a few more pictures from Jane Watson Irwin Perennial Garden, which I found particularly lovely. The weather wasn’t quite good and they were taken with an old camera. Even so, you will understand the ‘spirit’ of this garden and maybe found inspiration for your garden.

The initial geometrical design of D.U. Kiley in the 1970s had seen a few modifications in the 1980s; the plantings were modified as well. Today’s look is the creation of public space designer Lynden B. Miller, who used the existing garden structure like a painter’s palette to combine various perennials, bulbs, shrubs and annual plants to achieve a masterful work of living art.
Although I’ve only seen it only once, in early summer, I easily imagine how this garden beautifully transforms continuously throughout the seasons.

Overall layout of the garden

Entranceways are marked and emphasized by hedges and symmetric plantings

The geomatrical grid allowed for long focal points

The plantings of the rooms was inspired from the traditional English perennial gardens

Nice focal point framed by hedges

Small size evergreens in combination with perennials

In a shaded ‘room’: Hakonechloa macra ‘Old Gold’, variegated Polygonatum, Yucca flaccida

A humid spot with Iris sibirica ‘Blue Moon’, Athyrium nipponicum var. pictum, Astilbe, Hosta…

The green pillars were Ilex crenata, if I remember well

Sage, Iris and Calycanthus ‘Hartlage Wine’ in the background

Salvia viridis (annual) mass planting

One more look

To visit the whole NYBG one needs a short vacation, especially in late May/June when also the peonies are in flower!
There is a peony album which I still keep on the website; I like to have a ‘peony viewing’ once in a while ;)
One picture per blossom: A Peony Album

Paeonia lactiflora collection border at NYBG

“One poem/ per blossom is not enough/ for a peony.” – Ryumin

And if I may add, one picture per blossom would not be enough for a peony either. I realized this at New York Botanical Garden when the herbaceous Paeonia (P. lactiflora) collection was in full bloom. There are plenty of books and websites devoted to peonies. What I find fascinating is how this flower has become so revered in the eastern countries, to the point that peony-viewing was a festive occasion in the Japanese gardens, for example. It was associated with good-luck, prosperity; it was a status and a symbol of good fortune. Peony images can be found in the artwork of many Asian artists, in paintings, tapestry, porcelain and literature. For the peoples from other cultures, the peony may be just a pretty flower, but even so we can all agree that true beauty doesn’t need description. That’s why I put together this album: one picture and one poem per blossom; they are not enough….