Pompous Peonies

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Open to members and non members.

An evening with two National Collection Holders, with time for questions and answers. 

Claire Austin Claire has been involved in horticulture since 1983 when she joined her father, David Austin, taking over his collection of peonies and irises that he had gathered from around the world. Over the years her collection and knowledge have continued to grow, writing articles for numerous publications and publishing three books. Claire and her husband, Ric Kenwood set up Claire Austin Hardy Plants, and hold National Plant Collections of both a Bearded Iris and hybrid herbaceous Paeonia.

Caroline Stone National Collections Coordinator for Cornwall Caroline has a National Collection of Double Primroses herself. She started with an idea for two peony beds and now has about 230 plants of about 120 varieties of historic herbaceous peonies, mostly pre-WW1 varieties. Her search for peonies bred by Kelways Nurseries continues in the hope that a National Collection can be developed to conserve an important part of our national horticultural history.