A gift from the garden
In late spring, many of us keep a keen eye out for the ‘peonies for sale’ flag to go up at a gate on Ponatahi Road. What some may not know is that they are the delightful legacy of a remarkable woman, Louise St John. Tor White, Louise’s daughter, talks to Katherine Robinson about Ponatahi Peonies.
Q: When and why did your family decide to grow peonies?
A: Our mum, Louise, decided to plant them back in 2002. She was a writer, poet and editor [published under Louise White or Louise Lawrence] but she was also an avid gardener and a Wairarapa girl at heart. I believe she was drawn back to her spiritual home, and enjoyed getting back to digging in the dirt. Why peonies? Apart from being exceptionally beautiful, they have a short and intense harvest and bloom season. Then they are relatively low maintenance for the rest of the year, which allows for other projects and travel. After Louise died in 2009, Richard (my stepfather) and our family kept the crop going, taking great pleasure in the seasonal peony cycle.
Q: What kind of peonies?
A: We have Coral Charm, Coral Sunset, Mr Ed and Miss America.
Q: What do you like most about peonies and where they grow?
A: Well, you can’t beat the Wairarapa at peony time: it’s the air, the soil, the finger-numbing frosts and the sharp full sun. And being with the peonies themselves is magic. The Coral Charms can grow up to our armpits and the Miss Americas are as delicate as crepe. And being with what mum created is a total gift.
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Q: How did you establish them?
A: From memory, there was much research! Sourcing the best bulbs (from Central Otago), working out where on the property would be the best patch, how they were to be planted. (We used a post digger to dig deep holes in the stony soil) when they were to be planted… and then leaving them for three years to establish before starting to pick.
Q: Have they been easy to maintain?
A: They seem to have a spirit all to themselves. They are incredibly robust and love the Wairarapa climate, last year we had huge frosts and the buds were like blocks of ice. I was quite nervous, but then the next week they were out in full force.
Q: I would often buy a bunch for my mother as they were her favourite flower, but she couldn’t grow them. Do your customers tell you where your peonies go?
A: Peonies are such a ‘special moment’ flower that people who come to us often have beautiful stories like weddings, anniversaries, times with close friends or mums, and sad stories too. Our friends and customers (especially locals) bring with them stories of Louise and we get to talk about how there is still such a sense of her in the peonies and how wonderful she was, so that’s a beautiful thing for us all too,
Q: Any tips about keeping blooms fresh for as long as possible?
A: Here are some of our customers’ tips: put them in the coldest room in the house overnight; keep ice in their vases; and some folks put them in the fridge overnight. I’ve found that when I’m travelling with them when they are buds: laying down in a chill-bin on ice is brilliant.
Q: Apart from direct sales, where else would people find your peonies?
A: We take local orders for the Wairarapa and Wellington - as much as we can - and depending on the season we may do local markets and fairs. For any questions and orders (including weddings and big orders) you can contact us through ponatahipeonies.com and our instagram
www.instagram.com/ponatahipeonies/
