Top 100 Festivals & Events Ontario (Peony Festival)

Festivals and Events Ontario (FEO) is proud to announce the winners of the Top 100 Festivals and Events in Ontario! 

The Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens and Peony Festival is on this list along with many others.
click HERE. to see who else is on the list

Think of the peonies you will enter this year and make it an event to remember.

P. Wittmanniana Hybrid single white

Catherine Louise

Catherine Louise

Seedpod of Catherine Louise

Catherine Louise,(Menard/D'Aoust March 2006), Herbaceous Hybrid, White, 40", Early
Catherine Louise is a waxy white bloom with distinctive deep red stigmas, filaments, petioles and stems that accentuate the bloom.  |Excellent green foliage.

This is an excellent Canadian introduction that was registered by Menard before his death in
2002.  This was plant was named for his granddaughter, Catherine Louise Menard.

John Elisha Simkins (May 13, 1919 - September 18, 2011)

It is with a great sense of loss that we are informed of the passing of the founder of the Canadian Peony Society.

 

After a long and wonderful life, John Elisha Simkins died peacefully on September 18, 2011 at his home in Oakville at the age of 92.

John was the beloved husband of Violet for 65 years, father of Jon, Jennifer (King), and Janice (Thomson, deceased), and the grandfather of Rachel, Heather, and Miki. He is survived by brother Ted and sister Peggy (Martin) and predeceased by his twin brother Ernie.
John was born in Measham, England in 1919 and moved to Hamilton, Ontario in 1927 where he attended Delta High School. During World War II, he served with the Royal Canadian Infantry in Europe, rising to the rank of Major. In 1949, he and Violet wed in Hamilton. Soon after, John graduated with honours from McMaster University and was employed by Shell Oil Canada as a chemist in Montreal. In 1961, the now growing family moved to Oakville.
John was a passionate gardener and was world-renowned as an author, speaker, and hybridizer of peonies. He was a member of the Garden Writers Association of America, served as president of the American Peony Society, and founded the Canadian Peony Society. He also wrote regular articles for many horticultural publications, including a column for the local paper. He served on the board of the Royal Botanical Gardens and held many roles in the Oakville and Ontario Horticultural associations. He was also recognized as an outstanding volunteer in the community and a life-long and active member of St. Jude's Anglican Church.
Visitation will be held at the Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home on Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9. The funeral service will be held Thursday September 22 at 11:00am, St. Jude's Anglican Church, 160 William St., Oakville.

7th Annual Peony Festival and CPS Ontario Peony Show

It was a cloudy day before heading out, but, a quick check of the weather promised to stave off any rain until early evening. (Let's hope)
We hope to make this an every year event.  So mark it on the calendar and get those blooms in for the competition.  It could be the biggest show of the year with your support.
Traffic was light heading from Brampton to Oshawa and we made it with 10 minutes to spare.  Brian and I went into the arena and were given our instructions for the clerking and recording.  We beat the judges (barely) so we had a few moments to orient ourselves.  The judge was fun, entertaining and informative.  We had a few classes that had to be rejudged in the beginning due to added entries but everything went smoothly and we were ready for the Councillor when the main event happened at 11:00am.

These are some of the beautiful displays for competition entered in this years Flower Show

We had a silent auction on the far side of the arena and this was slow to start but as the day progressed each peony offered (5= 2 potted, 3 bare root) had bids.  Brian and I were to go outside and volunteer at the booth on the grounds but the inside booth had no one so we were placed here for the day.  Mid afternoon the skies opened up and we had a heavy downpour and strong winds.  Everyone outside came inside and we were bombarded with people and questions and seed selling.  We had a fantastic time talking with like minded enthusiastic individuals and were glad to help out so many.


Our day ended at 4pm and during a conversation with Judi about the event found out that we had few if any volunteers for Sunday .  Brian offered our services and so we will be back tomorrow.

Red and White P. Suffruiticosa

I have a white tree peony in the lower level of the yard and a pink tree peony of the hill.  Both seem to be doing quite well.  I have a few others but have yet to have any blooms on them.  Maybe next year.

Lil' Sweetie

L. Lil' Sweetie

LIL' SWEETIE (Krekler-Klehm),Single, 26", Very early, 
One of the earliest peonies to bloom. Finely cut leaves showing its tenuifolia parentage. Single, cup-shaped fire-engine red blooms. This peony is a great addition to the border leaving behind a wonderful foliage backdrop for some of your low growing perennial ground covers or with later blooming spring bulbs.