Following the tragedy of September 11, 2001, Yatsuka Cho, a town in Simane Prefecture, Japan offered a gift of over 500 peonies to the United States as a healing memorial. It was also a gesture of solidarity and support from a former enemy of the United States who less than 60 years ago were locked in combat with us during World War II. The peony is considered to Japan’s most noble of flowers and is the “signature flower” for the region. The Rockefeller Preserve accepted the gift and renovated the entrance to the Preserve in order to accommodate the peonies.
Planting the peonies was an undertaking that included a representative from Yatsuka Cho, four gardeners, a translator and an environmental scientist.*
Initially, there was sadness as the first shipment arrived with all the flowers dead with an estimated loss of $80,000 worth of peonies.* Later the flowers were generously replaced and now they grace the entry to the preserve with their blooms every spring. Here are some photos from this spring’s peony explosion.
* The following article provided much of the information for this posting: "PARKS; Sad End To a Gift Of Peonies From Japan," by Dorothy Conigliaro – The New York Times, Oct. 27 2002.
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Ruthmarie--Thank you for sharing this wonderful story! The peonies are beautiful. I had no idea that the Japanese had sent such a wonderful gift...twice no less.