PEONY GARDEN HISTORY:
The Peony Garden has a long-standing history in south-central Nebraska. The farm was started by Herbert F. Warren when he bought a quarter-section of railroad land in 1893. He planted clippings from three peonies (one each of white, pink, and red) that his father had given him. Herbert had loved the beauty of peonies since his childhood and spent years developing new varieties of the flowers on the land. The land on the farm was not conducive to raising crops, thus the Warren's cash crop was potatoes, which at times he peddled door-to-door in nearby Hastings to make enough money to feed his large family of nine children. In the early years, he gave away the cut blossoms he grew on his place, sometimes even the plants themselves, to anyone who appreciated his peonies. Eventually, Herbert had cultivated so many varieties of peonies and grown the farm so much that he had to hire help to work with the flowers and he started to sell the peonies commercially.
Over the years Herbert's work began to be recognized by horticulturalists all over the country and visitors began to come to see the amazing gardens from all over the United States. The height of the Peony Garden’s popularity was in the late 1920’s and 1930’s. It was reported that tens of thousands of visitors would come in a day in late May and early June, often causing traffic difficulties on the dirt roads leading to the farm from the nearby highways. During the years of World War II, Herbert had a difficult time hiring help to maintain the gardens and his children were all grown and had their own homes and families. Following Mrs. (Cora Taylor) Warren’s death in 1945, Herbert sold his beloved gardens. Herbert Warren then died in 1948, having developed hundreds of new varieties of peonies and more than 180 strains of iris as well.
The new owner was more interested in farming than flowers and the terraced rows of blossoms eventually were overgrown with weeds and brush and the Warren’s concrete markers to identify specific varieties broken and lost. In 1965 Howard and Carol Hohlen purchased the farm and worked for many years to restore some of the former luster to the Warren Peony Gardens. The Hohlen’s purchased new strains to add to the Warren peonies to start the blossoming season earlier and keep it going longer. After Carol's death and Howard's deteriorating health, the farm was purchased by Scott and Nikki Sjuts in 2010. The Sjuts family hopes to continue the long-standing tradition of the farm and continue the meticulous care of the peonies for future enjoyment.
Over the years Herbert's work began to be recognized by horticulturalists all over the country and visitors began to come to see the amazing gardens from all over the United States. The height of the Peony Garden’s popularity was in the late 1920’s and 1930’s. It was reported that tens of thousands of visitors would come in a day in late May and early June, often causing traffic difficulties on the dirt roads leading to the farm from the nearby highways. During the years of World War II, Herbert had a difficult time hiring help to maintain the gardens and his children were all grown and had their own homes and families. Following Mrs. (Cora Taylor) Warren’s death in 1945, Herbert sold his beloved gardens. Herbert Warren then died in 1948, having developed hundreds of new varieties of peonies and more than 180 strains of iris as well.
The new owner was more interested in farming than flowers and the terraced rows of blossoms eventually were overgrown with weeds and brush and the Warren’s concrete markers to identify specific varieties broken and lost. In 1965 Howard and Carol Hohlen purchased the farm and worked for many years to restore some of the former luster to the Warren Peony Gardens. The Hohlen’s purchased new strains to add to the Warren peonies to start the blossoming season earlier and keep it going longer. After Carol's death and Howard's deteriorating health, the farm was purchased by Scott and Nikki Sjuts in 2010. The Sjuts family hopes to continue the long-standing tradition of the farm and continue the meticulous care of the peonies for future enjoyment.
Click the File below to listen to a Podcast from Les Harms of the Adams County Historical Society for KHAS Radio in Hastings, Nebraska.
Les speaks about the history of the Peony Gardens and did an amazing job highlighting the history of the farm!
Moment In Time Podcast - Les Harms - Adams County Historical Society - KHAS Radio - 05/08/18 | |
File Size: | 2654 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |