During the months of May and June one of the all-time favorite plants of local gardeners, the peony, is bursting into bloom. There are many excellent peonies available to utilize in our landscapes; including herbaceous cottage types in all sorts of colors (and varying fragrances) and larger growing tree peonies too. I would never scold anyone for growing either of these types (since I do as well), but I want to bring attention to another fabulous peony option… what is known as the intersectional or Itoh Peony.
With April Fool’s Day this week, I find myself reminiscing about a fabled article from the legend himself, my esteemed predecessor at Sunnyside Nursery, Mr. Steve Smith. The Whistling Gardener pontificated about the mythical “wonder shrub” for April Fool’s Day many moons ago - luckily…