A Paddock of Peonies

words: Pattie Pegler images: Supplied

When Jeanine and David Cassidy decided to move from Christchurch to Timaru, they talked about building a new home. But they wanted something a little bit different. Then when David spotted a house for sale in a peony paddock – they fell in love with it, forgot about building and bought the place, peony paddock and all.

So what did they know about peonies back then?

“I only knew that I loved peonies and they were my favourite flower,” says Jeanine with a laugh.

That was back in 2015 and at the time she was a stay-at-home mum with all three daughters at school. She was also working as a specialist bra-fitter for a well-known lingerie company – a role she had held for several years. But on moving to the peony paddock she intended to try to make a little extra income.

So in 2017 she started the peony business too – selling the flowers at markets and also trying out different peony derivatives like bath bombs and candles, soaps and confetti.

“You have to try different things and find out what works,” she explains. “You gain an understanding of peonies. They’re special because they’re not around for very long and people get so excited when they see them.”

When it comes to the workload – spread out over the year it’s not a lot says Jeanine, but it does have ‘concentrated periods of work’. And at times like these the rest of the family will pitch in. Husband David is “a bit of a legend” and does a lot of work around the paddocks. And their daughters lend a hand at picking time.

Four years ago she decided to add another item to the to do list – holding a fundraiser for Breast Cancer Foundation New Zealand. It was driven in part by her work as a bra-fitter. “There are so many women who don’t go for mammograms and don’t self-examine. And don’t talk about it. And I thought why don’t we use the peonies to raise some funds for Breast Cancer NZ.”

Whilst the first fundraiser was a bit nerve wracking, it went really well. And since then it has got bigger and better each year –  consistently raising around $2000 for the Breast Cancer Foundation. As well as peony sales they have other local artisans who come along on the day – and rather than a stall fee Jeanine just asks them to donate whatever they think appropriate to the Breast Cancer Foundation.

“The fundraiser is one of the happiest times,” says Jeanine. “Everyone is there for the same purpose and that is to make someone else’s world a little bit better. It fills my cup.”

Peonies also have a personal level of emotion for Jeanine. She recalls in detail placing deep red peonies on her father’s casket before his funeral a few years ago. They were the peonies that were  in bloom when he died and now every year when she sees those ones blooming in the paddock she thinks of her father.

Whilst none of the peonies in the paddock are ‘named’ as particular varieties – there are ‘all sorts’ says Jeanine. Ruffled petals, delicate pastels, deep pinks and reds and even some scented ones.

“We don’t sell export level peonies – they don’t have pesticides or insecticides of anything like that on them – some can be a little bit rain damaged, half may flower, half may not,” she explains. “They’re not the typical ones you see – they’re different, ones that you really don’t find a lot in shops.”

They sound perfectly imperfect. But has it been a big learning curve?

Well, peonies are actually quite hardy plants, so they don’t need a lot of looking after. But one important aspect of healthy plants is not cutting them down straight away once they have flowered. “Let them go through their natural process,” she advises. “Let them go through sun and elements that’s how you set them up for the next season.”

And peonies still haven’t lost their appeal for the Cassidys.

“We still get excited as we sit and watch them grow from our living room,” says Jeanine “They are  quite phenomenal.”