Following a pandemic year in which visitors were asked to stay away, the nearly century-old peony garden in the University of Michigan’s Nichols Arboretum welcomed them back with a banner bloom year in spring 2021.

The garden, begun in 1922 with a gift of peony plants from U-M alumnus W.E. Upjohn, celebrated its 99th year of bloom from about Memorial Day through mid-June.

Recent plantings of tree peonies bloom earlier than the herbaceous varieties, extending the blooming season another two to three weeks. A multiyear renovation effort is nearly complete as the peony garden readies for its centennial celebration in 2022

The garden’s nearly 800 plants produce up to 10,000 flowers at peak bloom. It’s believed to be the largest collection of heirloom herbaceous peonies in North America.

The Arb is located near the U-M hospital on Central Campus and is part of the University’s Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum. At both the botanical gardens and arboretum, the trails and natural areas are open daily from sunrise to sunset. See more beautiful images from the garden.