A good friend who is selling his property just gave me a large peony root from his garden. The peony, which was billed as a white, single-flowered variety, bloomed last year, producing semi-double blossoms. I dug a shallow, wide hole for the newcomer, as peonies resent being planted too deep. Adding in a good helping of homemade compost, I finished with a wide collar of mulch. The root has several large, healthy “eyes” on it where new growth will eventually emerge. Peonies often get the sulks for a year or two when they are transplanted, but I have high hopes of at least one bloom—single or double–next spring.
The gift reminded me of my college roommate’s mother, a New England gardener, who has moved many times during her life. With every move she dug up her peonies and iris to take along to her new home. Now my friend has some of those same iris growing in her New York City garden. Next spring they will be joined by some Siberian iris divisions from my garden.
I always find it comforting to be a small part of the great historical continuum of generous gardeners.