Garden Questionnaire: Peony Garden

Photographs & Collage of Peonies by Hiltrud "Sam" Webber

Thirteenth in a series
Updated by Cindy Baird

GARDEN NAME: Peony Garden

Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park

2400 S. Scenic

Springfield, MO 65807

When was the garden first created?

2008

Who created the garden?

Designed by Bill Roston

Who maintains the garden?

FOG and Cindy Baird, volunteers

How many plants are in the garden?

There are approximately 120 peony plants in this garden.

How many plant types are in the garden?

Although peonies are the main attraction, there are annuals planted to give it eye appeal throughout the entire growing season.

How many plant species are in the garden?

Peonies are the only constant species in this garden. Annually the other plantings change.

How many plant varieties are in the garden?

At least 50 different varieties of peonies are in this garden bed. Throughout Close Memorial Park there are several other varieties of peonies that are beautiful during their peak.

Are the plants in this garden grouped in any special way?

No, they are planted so there is a beautiful expanse of color during the peak of blooming.

When is the garden in peak bloom?

Around mid-May into June.

What’s especially interesting about this garden that visitors would like to know?

Public peony gardens are rare. The fragrance of the peonies en masse is an absolute sensory sensation. The peonies are a great visual experience when they’re massed. The main features are fragrance and visual appeal.

Are there any special concepts or strategies shaping this garden?

The main idea is to be eye catching. The garden is also situated right next to the daylily garden so they nicely compliment each other.

Are there future plans for this garden?

This bed should stay anchored with these same peonies for the next century or longer. What to watch for is the changing annual plantings that give this garden the season long appeal.

Is there anything else you’d like people to know about this garden?

This is the garden you want to be visiting regularly from May through June. The fragrance and beauty of these heirloom flowers has a way of warming the heart and spirit. The remainder of the summer we want you to keep visiting to enjoy this area of the gardens as the annuals add a pleasant view as you weave along the path. Enjoy these beauties.

Script for Guide by Cell phone project for PEONY GARDEN

Written by Cindy Baird and recorded by Peter Longley on Prompt 43#

Welcome to the Peony Garden established in 2009. Peonies take several years to get established so you will see this garden mature over the next several years. Peonies have been noted in history since at least 1000 BC. Their roots were cultivated and used for medicinal purposes. Over time these plants were grown for their spectacular flowering beauty. We enjoy them for their beauty yet there are major studies underway

today to learn how these plants can be useful in both eastern and western medicine. Peonies are best known for their grandiose spectacular flowers. These plants are categorized by the number of petals on the flower: either single, single-double or double. Peonies grow as a bush as well as tree form. The tree forms are grafted. We hope to represent all these by the time our garden is mature. There are approximately 35 species of peonies that range in color from white to yellow to all shades of pink and red. There are no blue peonies. Our peonies will be at their glory during May and early June.