308 
The Garden Magazine, July, 1921 
Nathan R. Graves, Photo. 
SOMETIMES CALLED “THE WATER LILY ” 
Though not a new variety Marie Jacquin is, nevertheless, worthy of a place in any 
collection, with rose-white petals curving inward about the clustered yellow stamens 
has been reached, and many more varieties might easily be 
added. However, the following are outstandingly good under 
conditions here and are those most admired by visitors to my 
garden. 
One could hardly begin a collection without Festiva maxima, 
that splendid, large, globular, white variety with its strong, 
healthy growth and abundant bloom, and while it is one of the 
older varieties it is still very popular and among the best. 
It is sure to be found in nearly all collections large and small. 
Marie Jacquin, sometimes called “The Water Lily,” is not a 
new variety but is very distinct and beautiful with its white or 
rose-white, wide, incurved petals showing an open centre 
filled with yellow stamens like a Water Lily. It is particularly 
fine in its half-open stage. 
A strong, fine plant of La Rosiere, with its mass of large, flat, 
semi-double white blooms, is one of the most striking specimen 
plants in my collection. 
Solange is one of the aristocrats of the garden, but is difficult 
to describe. It has been called “an unusual and indescribable 
coloring of rare beauty,” a delicate lilac-white deepening toward 
the centre with salmon shading. The color chart is of little use 
in classifying this flower. The only place 1 have seen similar 
shading has been in an occasional sunset sky. 
Very distinct and beautiful, with petals much incurved, is the 
large, globular, pure white Le Cygne. This variety is still scarce. 
Frances IVillard is a perfectly formed flower, large and fine. 
As a cut flower or protected from the sun, it retains its delicate 
pinkish cream tints and lasts well. 
Encbanteresse is not as well 
known as it should be. It is a 
large, globular, compact, creamy 
white flower; a tall vigorous 
grower and very late. 
Marie Lemoine, a white variety 
of exquisite beauty. Very late. 
Grandiflora (Richardson), one 
of the older varieties, but very- 
beautiful in coloring; rose-white, 
free flowering and one of the 
latest to bloom. Its merits seem 
to have been overlooked. It is 
a good keeper and should be more 
generally grown. 
Jubilee is probably the largest 
Peony in my collection and is a 
very good flower, possibly it has 
been overrated; and, although a 
prize winner at the Shows, it lacks 
the charm of Therese, Le Cygne, 
or Solange. 
M. Jules Elie, one of the older 
varieties, still holds its place be- 
cause of its large, glossy, flesh- 
pink, bomb-type blooms with in- 
curved petals. This dependable 
variety, with its blooms covered 
with a silvery sheen, is worthy of 
a place in any collection. 
Martha Bulloch is probably the 
largest and most striking of the 
pink varieties and a healthy, 
strong grower. 
Sarah Bernhardt is a splendid 
deep, rose-pink of large size. 
One of the best in the mauve- 
rose shades is Kelways Queen. 
These last four are my fa- 
vorites in the deeper shades of 
pink. 
In light pink varieties, I have 
-yet to see a better variety than 
Therese. To my mind it is one of the finest varieties in culti- 
vation, and a well grown plant of this, carrying from thirty 
to forty blooms, is a sight not easily forgotten. 
Baroness Schroeder and • Venus are both worthy varieties, tall 
and free bloomers; and that old reliable variety, La Perle, with 
its large, rose-type, deep lilac-white blooms, is still a favorite 
though it ceased to be a novelty many years ago. 
In reds, Adolphe Rosseau is one of the best of the early semi- 
double varieties. It is particularly effective against a back- 
ground of shrubbery, and is a very tall, vigorous grower and 
a dependable free bloomer. A newer dark crimson, and one of 
exceptional merit and fragrance, is Philippe Rivoire which is fast 
growing in popularity as it becomes better known. 
Comparatively few people grow the single and Japanese 
varieties. A few of these make a pleasant diversity and no 
one will regret growing King oj England, rich rubv-red with a 
yellow centre; L’ Etincelante, brilliant carmine with silvery 
margin; La Fiancee (Dessert), large white with yellow centre. 
Silvia is one of the most beautiful single pink varieties, resem- 
bling a huge wild rose. 1 1 is one of the very recent introductions 
of Professor Saunders of Clinton, N. Y. Two especially fine 
Japanese varieties are Tokio, with rose-pink guards and yellow 
centre, and Tora-No-Maki, a most attractive white variety. 
Paeonia lutea, a small, single, buttercup-yellow species, is 
grown not only to add diversified interest, but because its pollen 
is being used in hybridizing experiments with the hope that 
something new and delightful in the way of yellow varieties may 
be developed. 
