Gina Parkinson is excited by a peony that flowers when she wasn't expecting it to.

THERE was great excitement here in May, at least from me anyway, when a peony I planted a couple of springs ago produced four fat flower buds.

The peony was very small when bought and seemed unlikely to be big enough to flower for several years so the buds was unexpected.

Daily checking saw agonisingly slow changes until mid-June when the first flower opened.

Paeonia 'Dr Alexander Fleming' has double pink flowers in May and June and grows around 1m/3ft high. The flowers are not long lasting but because they are carried as buds for several weeks and take up to five days to open, they seem to have been in the garden for some time.

The flowers are large and weigh down the stems of the shrub, especially after a shower - but, boy, are they worth the wait.

Although 'Dr Alexander Fleming' represents the typical peony plant, there are other types, including singles with beautiful cupped flowers filled with stamen and Japanese or Imperial peonies. These have enlarged outer petals surrounding a mass of petal like stamen which are called petaloids.

'Bowl of Beauty' is an example of a Japanese peony with pink outer petals and cream petaloides. Paeonia mlokosewitschii, an early-flowering species with golden stamen encased by yellow petals, is a single-flowered type with the charming common name of Molly the Witch.

Peonies are considered to be difficult as they require particular conditions but once established they will last for years. They are also reputedly hard to propagate and resent being moved but both my mother and sister have moved their plants, sometimes several times, without any ill effects or any break in flowering.

It is important to provide a fertile, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil, a sunny site and a cold period of dormancy. Tubers should be planted shallowly, that is so the buds are about 2.5cm/1in below the surface. If they are too deep the soil insulates the plant from the winter cold that promotes flowering.

However, don't be too concerned about these facts - they are useful to know but shouldn't put anyone off having one of these beautiful plants in their garden.

While the peonies described above are herbaceous perennials, an interesting variation of the genus are the tree peonies, deciduous shrubs with lovely foliage and flowers. These frost hardy plants prefers full sun although some will tolerate some shade.

Although hardy, some damage to leaves and flowers can occur from spring frosts - so avoid planting in frost pockets or positions where they catch early morning sun.

Species of tree peony include Paeonia delavayi with crimson cup-shaped flowers, red tinged new growth and height of 1.5m/5ft, and Paeonia suffruticosa or Moutans.

These plants date back to sixth century China since when many cultivars have been introduced, including 'Godaishu' with frilly white flowers and 'Hana kisoi' with semi-double shell pink flowers with a rose centre.

Although slow to develop, a thriving plant will carry an annually increasing number of blooms, which in some types can be very large, and grow about 1.5m/5ft tall. As plants can be variable it is best to buy named cultivars of P. suffruticosa from a nursery or garden centre.

Allotment open

COMMUNITY Kids Allotment at Low Moor Allotments, off Kilburn Road, York, is holding an open session on Saturday July 23 from 2.30-4pm.

Visitors will be taken on a tour of the plot by one of the regular gardeners and will be able to see the new wildlife pond the children designed and dug themselves, feed the worms and join the group for refreshments.

This inspirational allotment is on the immediate left of the Kilburn Road entrance and everyone is welcome.

:: Open gardens

Sunday, July 17

In aid of the National Gardens Scheme

Darley Gardens, six miles west of Harrogate off the A59. Two gardens open in the village. Graylings has a one-acre garden with lawns, borders, trees, shrubs, hot borders, containers filled with half hardy perennials, small courtyard and canal, greenhouses and fountains. The Old Vicarage has a -acre garden with gravel paths set with cobbles, large herbaceous island beds, smaller garden rooms enclosed by dry stone walls, greenhouse alpines, herbs, roses, clematis and grasses. Open 12-5pm.Combined admission £3.50 adult, 50p child.

Manor Farm, Thixendale, 17 miles east of York, turn off the A166 at the top of Garrowby Hill and follow signs for Thixendale. One-acre garden in a frost pocket and wind tunnel and featuring alpine areas, large lawns surrounded by mixed beds, shaded area, pergolas, courtyard and knot garden. Open 10-6pm. Admission £2.50 adult, 50p child.

130, Prince Rupert Drive, Tockwith, off the B1224 York-Wetherby road. Half-acre garden planted for year-round interest with some plants collected from wild seed, rock and bog gardens, large fern collections, shrubs, perennials, grasses and large kitchen garden. Open 1-5pm. Admission £2 adult, accompanied children free. Within visiting distance of Springfield House.

Springfield House, Tockwith, off the B1224 York-Wetherby road. Walled garden with herbaceous borders, stream water and rock gardens, roses, conifers, shaded shrubs walk and a wide range of interesting plants. Open 2-5pm. Admission £2 adult, accompanied children free. Within visiting distance of 130 Prince Rupert Drive.

Sleightholmdale Lodge, Fadmoor, six miles north east of Helmsley. Hillside garden with walled rose garden and herbaceous borders. (Unsuitable for wheelchairs). Open 2-6pm. Admission £2.50 adult, 50p child. Also open today from 2-6pm.

In aid of the British Red Cross

Rustic Cottage, Wold Newton, near Driffield. A cottage garden started from scratch in 1997 and still in the making providing a habitat for wild life with wild plants and shrubs. Winding paths link the various sections of the garden. Plants on sale. Open 11-4pm. Admission £2 adult, accompanied children free.

In aid of St John Ambulance

Norton Conyers, four miles north west of Ripon on the Wath road. Large walled garden, of interest to garden historians, with a central path between herbaceous borders and yew hedges leading to a small pond and orangery. The house was visited by Charlotte Bronte and is an original of Thornfield Hall in Jane Eyre. Open 2-5pm. Admission £3 adult, accompanied children free. House also open (extra charge).

Ings Farm, Bishop Monkton, near Harrogate. Wild garden with pond and swans. (Unsuitable for wheelchairs). Open 2-5pm. Admission £3 adult, 50p child.

Saturday, July 23

In aid of Barlby Foot Tappers

Youth Orchestra

24, Highfield Crescent, Barlby. Garden with interesting focal points, original water features and a large variety of fuchsias. Also raffle, refreshments, white elephant stall, paintings by Jackie Smith and pottery by Jack Crisp. Open 11-7pm. Admission £1. Also open 11-7pm Sunday July 24.

:: Gardening TV and Radio

Sunday, July 17

9am, Radio York, Down To Earth. Presented by William Jenkyns. (Repeated at 8pm on Wednesday).

9am, Radio Leeds, Tim Crowther and Joe Maiden.

2pm, R4, Gardeners' Question Time. John Cushnie, Bob Flowerdew, Pippa Greenwood and Eric Robson are with gardeners from Lincolnshire.

Thursday

7pm, BBC2, The RHS Flower Show at Tatton. Monty Don, Carol Klein and Joe Swift explore the large and back-to-back gardens and the floral marquee at the flower show in Cheshire.

Friday

7pm, BBC2, Small Town Gardens. Joe Swift is in Leeds where he brings a Moroccan feel to a courtyard garden.

7.30pm, BBC2, The RHS Flower Show At Tatton. The team look at Scarborough's entry for the national flowerbed competition and an inspirational design from the Cheshire Women's Institute for small garden.

Updated: 16:13 Friday, July 15, 2005