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Welcome to News From Italy, my blog about our Italian Adventure. Although this blog has now ceased publication I will be continuing to blog and I am sincerely hoping that my many followers here will move with me to Travel Tales blog to follow my next adventures wherever they may take me. The links to my other blogs are:-


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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Centro Botanico Moutan - Vitorchiano



In May when friends were staying with us we paid a return visit to the Centro Botanico Moutan,  Peony Farm. Those of you that were reading my posts this time last year, I hope you will not mind me posting again about the Peony Farm for the sake of my more recent followers.  I also believe these beauties and the place are worth sharing again.


                                                                                   


The centre is open all year round for purchases, but if one wants to see the peonies in flower timing is of the essence to view this unique collection of Chinese Peonies at their best. Unfortunately we did not get it quite right this year, as by the time we paid our visit the majority of the peonies were past their best, but there were still enough in flower to make the trip worthwhile. Our friends certainly seemed to think so and the wife another keen photographer took loads of photos, someone after my own heart!

                                                                           
The centre was founded in 1993 and the name ‘moutan’ is a direct translation of the Chinese word for tree peony. The founders had for many years been passionate about peonies and decided to grow a themed garden, this desire grew as they studied the varieties and species available throughout Asia. Importing them to Europe and collecting them in one place whilst studying and promoting their cultivation has today led to this fifteen hectare estate cultivated almost entirely with peonies nestling at the foot of the Cimini mountains in the Viterbo region.
During April and May the estate is open for visitors to stroll amongst the peonies, over 100,000 thousand plants belonging to around 600 different varieties. It is a fantastic display and ones sense of vision and smell are literally bombarded, quite an experience.  
At prices ranging from Euros 30 to 90 for mature plants these often rare specimens belong to many different species, some of which cannot be found any where else in the world. I have a catalogue of the species but not being an expert on peonies I shall not attempt to try and label my photographs in case I get them wrong. I hope you will enjoy the selection I have chosen to share with you, they were all so stunningly beautiful. 






Slide Show of Our Visit to Centro Botanico Moutan




The centres own website is also well worth a visit and is available in English, French and Italian Official Website - Centro Botanico Moutan this is where I gleaned the information quoted in this post and you will also find a lot more detailed information.


It is well worth a visit if you are ever in the region during April/May and after touring the garden the cafe is a pleasant place to stop for refreshments.


                                                                          


More Peony photos can also be viewed in last years post or in My Flickr Albums entitled.
Peonies - Peonie - Centro Botanico Moutan - May 2011     Flickr Album - Centro Botanico Moutan 2011


24 comments:

  1. Photograph no. 2 is simply wonderful - what a vista with the lovely green hills in the background. I love peonies, one of my favourite flowers which I look forward to seeing every year.

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  2. Oh, what a wonderful place to visit! Lovely shots.

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  3. I just love peonies, mine are all pink, I would like to get some different colours for next year. Not sure where I will find them here, but the nursery must know. I can also check the internet. Keep well Diane

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  4. Peonies are my favourite flower. Every year my husband buys me a bunch for my birthday-I'm so lucky that they are at their best in November over here!

    Your pictures are so lovely Lindy Lou-I really enjoyed the slide show!

    Best wishes for a lovely week,
    Natasha.

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  5. OH MY GOSH..... How awesome is this?!

    I love the simple little yellow fella.
    But mostly I love that it's a SEA of peonies.....how breathtaking.....

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  6. Wow, the place is really neat. I can take tons of photos there. :)

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  7. How beautiful! I was given the most gorgeous bouquet of peonies yesterday, by a friend who grows them, seemingly effortlessly. They won't grow up here, much as I try to help them along.

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  8. This is wonderful news! We are Chinese Tree Peony nuts and have quite a few, but we're always looking for more. So great to see that this is so close to us! Nice blog, by the way! I've subscribed by email. I'm also a blogger and have been living here since 2000. My blog site is http://www.umbriascribe.com...if you're interested. No pressure!

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  9. I love peonies-bought some pale pink ones today in fact! Lovely post.

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  10. I have pink peonies in my yard and they are some of my favorite flowers. I'd love some of the white ones.

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  11. Wonderful wild roses and fantastic colors !
    Best regards, Synnöve

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  12. What a beautiful place to take a friend to, especially one that enjoys taking photos! These are gorgeous peonies!

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  13. What spectacular photos. I love the flowers and as I was not following you at this time last year, I'm so glad you posted about the peonies again!

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  14. Those are amazing flowers (and pictures)!! I had no idea there were so many varieties of peonies.

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  15. Oh what a wonderful place to visit. All of those gorgeous flowers - I love your picture of the field of flowers with the hills in the background. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  16. Oh my goodness, what a beautiful place to be with a camera!

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  17. What a beautiful place how lucky are you getting to vist such beauty, so many wonderful photos you have shared with us enough to make me wish I could pop over to have a visit.......

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  18. What a beautiful place to visit, I love peonies and was very sorry to see my one had gone over yesterday, the rain didn't help it at all :(

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  19. It must have been amazing to walk through waist high peonies and to have been surrounded by such beauty. I would love to visit there someday.

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  20. The flowers are just beautiful. Thank you for sharing them. Hope you are well and the heat isn't getting to you. A big hug!

    Julie

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  21. Peonies are simply stunnning! I don't have any, but hoping to next year. They're on my list. Thanks for sharing :-)

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  22. thanks for that long intoxicating drink of peony goodness!
    wow, a whole field of them blooming so bountiful
    gives me happy shivers:)
    thanks for the beautiful stir,
    Jennifer

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  23. Well, this is just amazing! I would certainly enjoy visiting there. We have a peony farm not far but the setting is not as beautiful as this one.

    Happy weekend, Linda!

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  24. Bet it smelled like heaven at that peony farm!

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