By Julia Harmsworth
If you ever find yourself marvelling at a beautiful peony, you partly have the Canadian Peony Society to thank.
The Canadian Peony Society promotes the enjoyment, growth and development of peonies through spotlighting a peony of the month, hosting peony shows, publishing a newsletter, and directing people to peony vendors.
The society was started 25 years ago by a horticulture enthusiast in Oakville, Ont., with links to the American version of the society. In honour of this milestone, it is supplying peony roots to the Shakespearean Garden in Stratford, Ont., for two years to continue its mission of supporting peonies across Canada.
“Part of our mission is to support public displays of peonies, so we’ve done quite a lot of donation of roots,” said Joan Campbell, secretary and board member for the society.
The society currently has about 320 members. Campbell said it saw an uptick in engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic as more people were spending time at home tending to their gardens.
“There was a lot of enthusiasm for gardening, and people were spending a lot of time thinking about their gardens,” Campbell said. “We saw a surge in enthusiasm, not only in our membership, but also in root sales and seed sales.”
The society encourages its members to donate peony roots and seeds for such sales. The donated roots and seeds are sold for less than retail price and the money raised supports the society. Root sales are reserved for members, while seed sales are open to the public.
Each year, the organization hosts a national show in a different Canadian city. During COVID-19, when this was not possible, the society ran Zoom seminars that make peony experts from across the world more accessible to gardeners. The society has continued these seminars, as they aid its mission of preserving horticultural information and knowledge.
The organization also recognizes individuals who have made great contributions to peonies with annual awards. This year, Reiner Jakubowski earned the Distinguished Service Award for his work with the American Peony Society and contribution to the Board.
Brian Porter won the Lifetime Achievement Award for founding the Prairie Peony Society in Regina and staging two decades of peony shows.
Those interested in getting involved with the Canadian Peony Society can attend the peony shows or become a member. All information is available on the society’s website.
“It’s not only about the plants as far as I’m concerned; it’s about the people. It’s an opportunity to meet fellow enthusiasts and to share information and enjoy each other and share the fun,” said Campbell.
