Wendi,
Where are they located? Do they have a web site?
Thanks,
Terry

Hi Terry,

I am awful with directions so I copied them from Mapquest, starting in Merrimack ;) and ending at the Countryman Peony Farm. When I first typed in the directions last week, Mapquest kept referring me to Vermont Berry Farm, which was supposedly less than a mile away. When I was there, no one in Northfield had ever heard of the place. It's definately a day trip, a little over two hours, but if you love flowers it is really worth it.

These are from Mapquest.

Merrimack, NH 03054, US
End:

818 Winch Hill Rd
Northfield, VT 05663-6141, US

Directions Distance
Total Est. Time: 2 hours, 23 minutes Total Est. Distance: 137.26 miles
1: Start out going WEST on W CHAMBERLAIN RD toward NEWTON ST. 0.1 miles
2: Turn LEFT onto TURKEY HILL RD. 1.2 miles
3: Turn LEFT onto AMHERST RD. 0.2 miles
4: Turn LEFT onto CONTINENTAL BLVD. 5: CONTINENTAL BLVD becomes GREELEY ST. 6: Turn LEFT to take the EVERETT TURNPIKE NORTH ramp toward MANCHESTER / CONCORD. 0.5 miles
7: Merge onto EVERETT TURNPIKE (Portions toll). 22.1 miles
8: EVERETT TURNPIKE becomes I-93 N (Portions toll). 2.2 miles
9: Merge onto I-89 N toward LEBANON / WHITE RIVER JCT VT (Crossing into VERMONT). 104.5 miles
10: Take the VT-64 W exit- EXIT 5- toward VT-12. 0.1 miles
11: Turn LEFT onto VT-64 / NORTHFIELD RD. Continue to follow VT-64. 2.9 miles
12: Turn RIGHT onto VT-12 S. 1.1 miles
13: Turn LEFT onto VT-12A. 0.9 miles
14: Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto WINCH HL (Portions unpaved). 0.8 miles
15: End at 818 Winch Hill Rd
Northfield, VT 05663-6141, US
Total Est. Time: 2 hours, 23 minutesTotal Est. Distance: 137.26 miles

Start:

Merrimack, NH 03054, US
End:

818 Winch Hill Rd
Northfield, VT 05663-6141, US

Let everyone on GW know if you go, I still have to post my pictures. I left my photo stick in my camera at work yesterday so when I got home I wasn't happy. I will be posting them tonight, take a look.

Good luck!

Wendi

P.S.

They do not have a website, I wish that they did. They do have a catalog that you can ask for (they will mail you one, it's $2.00. Of course DH left ours on the desk at the office of the Farm or else I would have happily shared mine with you). Their phone number is 802-485-8421, the email address is countrymanpeonyfarm@netscape.com. Terry if you go the Vivid Rose should be in bloom, the buds were fist size. Read my previous thread about the place. Judyefd was the one who posted the information about the place and she let me (well really everyone--I just read about it) the Vivid Rose Peony. It's a stunner. I asked about it and Mrs. Countryman told me that they may be able to get me one in 5 years (yikes!), when I posted that judyefd wrote back that she was told that if 20 people ask for it, they will then propagate it. Have fun!

Thanks for sharing this year's list. Definately a couple missing that were available in years past.

I think I have to make a trip there this weekend!!! Especially since you say they're behind us a bit in bloom time.

I also think I have to officially ask for Judy Ann, so they'll propagate it for a future purchase!!

Here's a little shortcut to get there:
You'll get off 89N at Exit 5 and turn left onto Rte 64 (down a big hill) to the end (as stated). Instead of turning Right onto Rte 12, go straight across (onto Lovers Lane) to the end of that road, then turn Left onto Rte 12A. Winch Hill Rd will be the next road on your Left. It's a long hill up! (hope the map link works)

Thanks, Wendi, for sharing my enthusiasm for the place!
Judye

Here is a link that might be useful: map

Okay everyone, I am going to create a new thread right now for some of my pictures.

Judye,

If you ask Mrs. Countryman for a Judy Ann tell her that I would like to be on that list also. If it takes twenty people, then we can be on our way(LOL). I am hoping enough people cry about Vivid Rose still.

Look for the pics everyone!

Wendi

Will definately put our names on the list for Judy Ann. I'm sure they'll know who Wendi is!!

Thanks!
Judye

The list SLIGHTLY changed when I was there over the 4th of July weekend. They eliminated Splendida from the list - as you noted it was sold out, and ADDED these two:

Adolphe Rousseau (dark red, semi double, strong stems)
Charles Burgess (red and gold Japanese)

Guys! The "Vivd Rose" ($22) can be found on the website of www.peonyparadise.com at Adelman Peony Gardens. She sells healthy divisions. Her Bartzella though is $125 which is a little steep for some. There is a "free" catalog she can mail to you if interested. Enjoy!

Hey Wendy- Thanks for the link; just decided I need to replace some peonies that I tried to 'fix' several years back (divide, give more room...you know, make it 'better' for them. You can guess how that turned out).

At any rate, how do they sell their Peonies? Do they dig them while you are there? ARe they already potted up?

I ask because I don't know if I should visit NOW or in the fall...

Help.

Hey Brat!

How is Mr. Peanut doing? Unfortunately his parents met a sad end. I told that DH of mine to please dig them up for me and put them in the cellar.

A couple of weeks ago I went looking for them and I asked where they were and DH brought me out in the yard and pointed to where they were growing. "Did you dig them up like I asked you to?" "Um, I forgot." Yep, not a happy camper about Elephant Ears right now.

Okay onto your little dilema now. Countryman's--boy did I love that place. The person who truly knows about it is judyefd--you would love her, she is really a sweetheart. Ping her if you have any other questions about Countrymans but I will try to help you out as much as I can.

I think the flowers will be in bloom in the next couple of weeks, I think this whole section of the country is a few weeks behind schedule for flowers (I know that my yard is certainly out of sync compared to previous flowering schedules). Here is the hard part. They only sells certain peonies every year and I understand that they are never the same. They have a catalog of what they will be selling for this year (DH called and he was told that we should receive on within the next couple of weeks). Now you can go and actually see what the plant is going to look like when it is blooming (the bad part is that they have hundred of plants and only so many that they sell each year and of course if you are like me you want everything that they are selling and everything that they aren't selling this year. If you see a particular peony that you would like to be put on a list for if they are going to sell it next year they are more that happy to do that. This is the hardest part for me. You don't go home with the plant, they will dig it up in September (the best time to dig up and to tranplant peonies) and you can either go back and pick up what you purchased or you can have what you purchased mailed to you (I love the drive and the area so I of course choose to pick them up). I purchased three last year, Nick Shaylor, Myrtle Tischler and based on what Judye suggested a Vivid Rose.

I will be making the trip again, I don't know when but it is definately worth it.

Are you going to Annie's Plant Swap?

Wendi

Thanks for the info; not sure if I'm going to the swap or not; I need to email Annie on that- just haven't done it.

Mr. Peanut met his demise over the winter; not sure what happened to him. Just stopped putting out new leaves. We got probably 6 new leaves out of him before he keeled. So the rootball went in the compost pile, and I keep thinking maybe I'll just go buy another one at the grocery store. It's just Taro root, right? I think it's cheaper in the grocery store than in a 'garden' setting. Got any thoughts on that?

By the way, did you make it to Reading this weekend? Selection was good, and I came home with a box-full. Then we hit Lake Street G-Center in Salem after that- HUGE place, but rather expensive. They have things that others don't.

Then we hit um...oh...we came home Rte 28 north instead of taking 93 out of Salem, and found this CUTE little garden place in a residential area. Rosey's Roots I think the name of it was. Spent a little time & money there, then finished up the day at Pineywoods in Deerfield by the fairgrounds.

It was a good 'plant' day.

Visit Countryman's in mid to late June. I've gone several years on 4th of July weekend and been delighted! They have many fields of peonies...hundreds of cultivars, but as Wendi said, they only have about 60 available for sale each year.

It is SO worth the trip!!! Great mountain views and great flowers! A ride around the fields on the golf cart with Chris, when available, is great!

Judye
(thanks for the kind words, Wendi)