A Walk in a Peony Garden

Every year on the last Saturday of May a local volksport club hosts a 5K/10K walk at Adelman's Peony Gardens in Brooks, Oregon. The walk is preplanned, mapped and flagged to present the walkers with the best experience possible. Based on participation, it is rated as one of the most popular volkswalks in Oregon. Here are some pictorial reasons why so many people find this walk enticing.

The approach to the volkswalk start point gives a hint of what is in store for the walkers.


Walkers get closer views as the trail winds through the growing field. Note that not all peonies bloom at the same time!


Not up to a 5K (3.1 mile) or 10K (6.2 mile)walk? You can hang around the display garden and take in a multitude of peony cultivars without walking very far at all.


Lady Alexandra Duff


Cora Louise and Hot Chocolate


Shawnee Chief


Sonoma Sun and Showgirl


Minnie Shaylor


Summer Glow and Rozella


Shirley Temple and Mother's Choice


A great garden is more than just the feature plant. Appropriate companion plantings and select garden art situated in just the right place round out this beautiful garden.

Peony Touch of Class with lupine and iris companions.


Lupines can be found throughout the display garden.



Suspended metal butterfly art.


Alchemilla mollis and Heuchera Key Lime Pie


A couple of small whimsical sculptures.




This water feature is the main focal point of the display garden.


A wide view of a portion of the garden.


If one of those proverbial Willamette Valley rain showers lets loose, you can just go into the nearby gift shop and peruse the cut peony display. The stems on display are always fresh and there are usually some stems in buckets of water available for sale. Many other peony related items, such as magnets, notecards, scarves and calendars, are also available.



If you come to visit, be sure to bring your camera and umbrella. Allow yourself plenty of time to take in all of this floral beauty!