Peony season is upon us

Beloved for their elegant appearance and sweet scent, peony season runs from late April right through to June, which while fleeting is absolutely glorious and means that summer is just around the corner.

 Looking for some spots to witness abundant peonies in nature? Then check them out in two of the UKs most acclaimed gardens, which both happen to be in Carmarthenshire – Aberglasney Gardens, a heritage garden featuring a fully restored Elizabethan Cloister Garden at its heart, and the National Botanic Garden of Wales, the world renowned gardens which feature the world’s largest single-spanned glasshouse.

Aberglasney Gardens

At Aberglasney the earliest varieties start to bloom in early May, with Clare de Lune being the first of the varieties into flower, and Paeonia Emodi being the first of the species into flower.

However, it’s the tree peonies that are the most interesting – there’s lots of new varieties as a huge number have been bred in Japan over the last few years.

Unlike the common red or yellow tree peony, the new varieties have a large number of blooms on relatively small plants. This means they earn their keep in smaller gardens since the blooms are much more easily seen.

They prefer a sheltered sunny site since heavy winds will damage their flowers (which can be around the size of a dinner plate!).

National Botanic Garden of Wales

 The National Botanic Garden of Wales is a fascinating blend of the modern and historic, covering 568 acres of the beautiful Carmarthenshire countryside.

You’ll find an inspiring range of themed gardens with a collection of over 8,000 different plant varieties, the world’s largest single-span glasshouse, orchid-filled meadows, a National Nature Reserve, the British Bird of Prey Centre and more, all set in an historical Regency landscape.

Naturally with a garden of such renown there are a huge number of peony varieties on display for visitors to enjoy, many of which are just coming into bloom.

Pay a visit and witness the beauty of ‘Paeonia Lactiflora ‘Immaculée’, ‘Paeonia mascula subsp. Russoi’ and ‘Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Rimpo’’, among many other varieties.