The “sea of ​​peony” of exceptional varieties has flourished in Kaunas: visitors are in a hurry to immortalize

“Three new peony collection exhibits were installed in the Vytautas Magnus University Botanical Garden. The representative exhibition on the island consists of wild peonies species and their varieties. All the most representative and Lithuanian varieties of peonies available abroad have been planted here, and the most beautiful and interesting peony seedlings in our garden have been selected. The second exhibition is located in the depths of the garden, next to the collection of conifers. In it, we composed the peonies with the flexible ones, because the peonies and the flexible ones bloom at the same time, and the background of this wonderful and romantic combination of flowers consists of coniferous trees. The third peony exhibition is located only on the edge of the newly created educational garden this spring, “says Dr. Vytautas Magnus University Botanical Garden, Head of the Department of Exhibitions and Collections. Arūnas Balsevičius.

Exceptional and rare varieties

The Vytautas Magnus University Botanical Garden collection of peonies consists of around 300 peonies collection numbers: herbaceous, woody, and intersectional peonies (hybrids of herbaceous and woody peonies).

“We are proud of the unique and rare varieties of the Lithuanian selection: we breed and protect twenty-five varieties created by Jonas and Emilija Tarvydas and nineteen varieties bred by Ona Skeivienė assigned to National Plant Genetic Resources (ANGI). It is worth mentioning here the incredible fact that during the difficult Soviet times, in 1953, Ona Skeivienė was able to register 6 varieties of peony in the United States, when this was probably generally prohibited, “says Dr. A. Balsevičius.

So far, the appearance of peonies is modest

Visitors will see both the older varieties (for example, Reine des Roses, bred in 1846) and the newer ones at the peony exhibits at the Vytautas Magnus University Botanical Garden. According to experts, all ancient and modern peony varieties originated from the crossing of wild peonies species, so the peonies collection can also see wild peonies, which are the ancestors of modern cultivated peonies.

A small but impressive exhibition adorns the edge of the pond next to the bridge. Here, in the shade of the Canadian cercio, the multi-colored peonies of the Itoh group flourish, brought in 1948 by the Japanese Toichi Itoh. For these herbaceous and woody peonies hybrids, the society consists of blueberries, cauldrons, and Japanese maples.

“We feel compelled to warn visitors that peonies were planted in the new exhibits only last year, and some this spring, so the flowers that have developed in all their beauty are not to be expected. The spells of Peony takes 2-3 years to grow, so far its appearance is still modest, “says dr. A. Balsevičius.

This year, flowering is delayed

Žibutė Baškienė says that this idea has been around in the botanical garden for a long time. According to the specialist, there are more than 300 different varieties of peony in the garden. According to her, the right side of the island is dedicated to the Lithuanian selection, and the most interesting foreign varieties flourish on the left side.

“Upon entering the island through the bridge on the left side there is a group of woody herbaceous hybrids, they are semi-solid, with more interesting colors. At first there were poor stumps here, and now, as we can see, the whole sea. Flowering depends on the heat, if it is very hot, we enjoy the flowers for a few weeks, everything ends soon. This year, spring was late and cold, so flowering is delayed because there is generally massive flowering from June 10-12. The last varieties even received the day of San Juan “, explains the interlocutor.

Receive many visitors

According to her, many visitors are coming, only this year the quarantine has slightly adjusted the situation. According to her, as soon as people were allowed to go to the parks, a large number of families visited the VMU Botanical Garden. Ž. Baškienė says that peonies blooming in the garden attract people with their diversity and abundance, they all have different aromas, flowering time and flower shapes.

“The dark and shiny peonies are the first, but their smell is quite unpleasant, others even suck. Peonies are always the favorite, perhaps because it is an ethnographic flower. The old ethnographic flowers of the nursery, both peonies and dahlias, They are very striking in the fall. Not all events are without these flowers, “he explains.

Tips for growing peonies

According to the specialist, the most important thing for peonies is to choose a suitable place to plant, it should be a sunny place. According to her, if peonies are planted for a long time, they should be planted every 0.5 or 1 meter. Ž. Baškienė ensures that marl is better for this seeding than conductive sand.

“It is very important that you do not plant too deep, because a deeper peony may not flower for many years. If we multiply them, the ideal time would be from mid-August to mid-September. When we multiply, that pot should be divided into 2-3 growth shoots. They are not deep in the ground, it is better to divide the root as it is very well attached. One should not fear that this beautiful image will not be soon.

The place must be chosen in a responsible way, since it is a perennial flower that does not like transplantation. It can grow in one place for 15-20 years. From early spring we fertilize calcium nitrate with boron, after flowering we fertilize with complex fertilizers. Weeding is necessary, if it is very dry, it should be watered, but it should be done infrequently and abundantly, ”he advises.