ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - Nicole Calvin has been visiting the University of Michigan campus annually for the past 16 years to experience the university’s impressive peony collection. This year, she made a special effort to come twice.
Calvin expressed her enthusiasm saying, “I just love walking through the gardens. I love that they come from different places, and there are different varieties, different colors. It smells amazing. It’s just a really beautiful place to be.” With an anticipated influx of 100,000 visitors, the University of Michigan’s Nichols Arboretum, also known as The Arb, is set to showcase a collection of unique perennial flowers renowned for their showy pink, white, and red blooms.
The W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden hosts one of the largest collections of historic herbaceous peonies, specifically those cultivated before 1950, in North America and likely the world. Doug Conley, the horticulture lead of Nichols Arboretum, noted, “There’s been a long fascination with this plant because, when it’s peak, it’s so out there. It’s such a big show. And our collection is overwhelming. When you see this garden at peak bloom, there’s nothing like it. You’re captivated by it.”
During peak bloom, the peony garden captures the attention of many, turning the peony watch into a popular spectator event. The overwhelming number of visitors has necessitated the use of buses to transport attendees to The Arb each spring, signifying the garden's immense popularity. The W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden houses hundreds of historic cultivated varieties from the 19th and early 20th centuries, including peonies from America, Canada, and Europe. At its peak, the garden is known to display tens of thousands of blooming flowers.
The garden is accessible for free, open to the public from sunrise to sunset. For those particularly drawn to the enchanting scent of the peonies, it is advisable to visit either early in the morning or late in the evening, as these times offer the best olfactory experience.
Conley pointed out the restorative benefits of visiting such a natural setting, stating, “It is restorative for all of us, I think, to come out into nature and be surrounded by joy and beauty. It’s a delightful place for people to just come and gather and be.” This sentiment captures the essence of the W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden, making it not only a visual feast but also a sanctuary for relaxation and community gathering.
