Sherry from Morgan Hill Farm just won $1000 worth of premium peony roots from Mountain Flower Farm!

Here is her story:

---The What and Why of Peonies---

I first saw and SMELLED peonies as a small child. We had arrived at my grandparent’s cottage to spend a day frolicking in the sunshine and waters of Lake Champlain. I was so excited! As I burst from the car, I stopped dead in my tracks because of a heady, intoxicating perfume that filled the late-morning air. In childhood wonder, I asked my grandmother, who was standing in her cottage doorway, welcoming our arrival, “Grandma, what is that wonderful smell?” Her face lit up with a bright smile as she replied, “My beautiful peonies! Shall we take a tour?” I will never forget the “Peony tour.” The cottage was surrounded with Sara Bernhardt peonies in full bloom! I was smitten.

Fast forward, at hyper speed – because I am now much older and, it brings us here to today, to this letter.

In 2021 I began to grow cut flowers on our small Vermont island farm. Growing up on a dairy farm, I figured growing flowers would be a cinch. Ha! It’s hard work with a lot of pit falls and it will make a person want to give up. I forged on and at the end of 2023 I looked back at what had been achieved. I was proud but, to move forward, I knew there had to be more perennials. Grandma’s cottage sprung to mind! Peonies. The farm needed these long-lived beauties in her fields. Now, where to find them?

Onto the internet I went. [ Lots of choices but , I wanted Vermont grown roots, if possible.] I knew locally bred & grown would survive our crazy Vermont weather. We found them at Mountain Flower Farm. To make things easy, because there are so many fine peonies to choose from, we went with a Starter package. 4 lovely types that flowered one after the other. But the best part, Grandmother’s Sara Bernhardt roots were part of that package!! It was meant to be.

Speed ahead, to late Oct. 2024. The day was bright & sunny when I arrived at Mountain Flower Farm. Our ‘Starter Package’ was ready for pickup. Walt chatted a bit with me about planting them, etc. I left there feeling like I had won the lottery. Beautiful, locally grown peony roots and some excellent, first-hand knowledge. You just can’t beat that with an internet sale!

2025 will be starting soon. It will be our 4^th year of growing cut flowers. And when those beams of spring sunshine finally shine down on our new peony field, and the first peonies reach for the sky, I’m pretty sure Grandma will be watching.

Peonies evoke wonderful memories, and bring forth future joy. Hope is held, when one beholds their beauty. Memories, are tucked away to be remembered by their heady perfume.

-Sherry Siebenaler

Morgan Hill Farm LLC