I mentioned starting a thread to show pics of your peonies as they look when they're first open as opposed to faded. With a bit of outside encouragement I decided to get that thread started today!! I have several peonies that I actually prefer the faded look over the first open look; they can appear so different and interesting.....

First up is Heidi. For transparency I'll divulge that these pics weren't taken even in the same year, the first open pic was from this spring and the faded was from a couple of years ago. They were from the same plant. I probably won't have a lot of flowers from that one this year as I divided and moved it, was getting far too crowded by a penstemon.


Next is Coral Charm, just starting to open

and the same flower a week later

here's one where the newly open and faded are on the bush at the same time! Singing in the Rain from 2014, you can see that it was a bad hail year.. The red at the bottom is Victorie de la Marne.

Coral Sunset

a couple of days later

Misaka

2 days later

P. Off. Rosea Plena

and, IMO, much prettier faded.

Please add your quick change artists to the thread! Karen, I know you had a spectacular series of Joker pics, think from a couple of years ago, would love to see it again here!

Oh WOW, that first Heidi bloom is super gorgeous! I love that blend of blush and white and pink colors. It's rare that I see this blend on a herbaceous peony esp. with the staminoids . The same goes for the faded Rosea Plena. Wow, just too lovely for words. You know that I love your Singin the Rain! Those apricot peachy blooms are just perfect - make my heart skips. Wish I still have those Joker photos from 2016. My computer was infected with virus so I have lost them. Last year's Joker did not have that distinct fading because the weather remained cool so the blooms stayed pink until petals drop. Let me look to see if I have others that produce good fading effect.

Well your SitR will look just like that one, Karen, hopefully this spring! Such a shame to lose those photos, that was the best faded peony pic I think I've ever seen. It was basically white with a touch of dusky pink around the petal edges....

Did you post the pics here? They should still be on the server if you did.

I just looked in the Joker entry in the database and they are there, Karen! Tagged with your name and everything!

Pink Hawaiian Coral

Thanks, I forgot about them. It was a good thing that you advised me to upload to the database, Liz. I have found that you don't get the same effect from blooms year after year if the weather does not allow it.
Here's Joker on Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

I found last year that Old Faithful also faded in a nice way though it's not obvious from the pictures:

Joker fades beautifully. Hope the one in botanical garden blooms this year

One of the European growers posted a faded pic of Old Faithful to see if anyone could guess what it was, no one could. It was beautiful and so different from the new bloom. Sure hope mine blooms this year, it was one that didn't even form buds last spring.

Karen, your Joker fade series is my all time favorite!

Meiko, hoping Langley blooms for both of us this spring and we get some great fades on it as well!

I couldn't find any fade pics of any more of the corals, anyone have any?

Good thread idea, Liz,

Here is Coral Sunset. It fades gloriously!

When I toured Gold City a few years ago, they had a row of Old Faithful that was faded out. It was absolutely gorgeous! Antique parchment and faded red. I didn't take any photos as we were moving quickly on their Gator! But that image stuck in my head.

Karen, your Joker photo series is gorgeous! I moved and divided my Joker a couple of years ago. I sure hope it decides to bloom this year!

Hope your Joker will bloom and fade nicely for you, LG and Mary at the Botanical Garden. I wish the blooms are little larger. I really like your Coral Sunset fading though. In the last pic, the flower just glows!

Old Faithful, 2016

June 10

June 11

June 15

June 18

Oh man, Old Faithful is so gorgeous! I can't wait to see mine bloom this spring. The red in that first pic is to die for. WoW!


PHC fades beautifully! I was able to see this in person when I visited a peony garden near Philly 4 years ago. The faded color is even nicer than the pink/coral shade that it opens with. One of the reason I got PHC eventhough it smells very bad. I got from Bannister 2 years ago and had not bloomed yet.

littlebin said:
Pink Hawaiian Coral

Ablone Pearl ?

Coral Sunset

Coral Supreme

Pink Hawaiian Coral

All these photos are from Olbrich Botanical Garden, Madision, WI.

Ah! So beautiful!!! I love corals! My Coral Charm has not bloomed yet and my Abalone Pearl, Coral Sunset and PWC were planted last fall, and I hope to get at least one coral bloom next summer.

Paeonia 'Coral Sunset', 2017

May 21


May 23


May 26


June 1

Here is Hillary Itoh's fading:

Have you ever noticed...

If a peony holds it color, marketing hype claims this as a desirable trait.

If a peony changes color, marketing hype claims this as a desirable trait.