The bloom season is just beginning at Ann Arbor’s historic peony garden in the Nichols Arboretum.

89.1 WEMU’S Lisa Barry visited the garden and has details…

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There is color in the nearly 100-year-old peony garden next to the Michigan Medicine medical complex. but much of it is from large Rhododendron bushes and historic Chinese and Japanese tree peonies along the side of the main garden…which smell as good as they look!

Spring weather dictates the peony bloom season, which typically begins around the end of May and peaks in early June.

The majority of peonies arranged in 27 beds have yet to fully open in the main garden, which will eventually be full of color once more than 10,000 blooms show their spring display.

Some of the peonies in the Ann Arbor arboretum are still growing in the same spot where they were planted 96 years ago, and there have been new peonies planted as well. The garden is free and open to the public, and self-guided tours are available along with maps and information.

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— Lisa Barry is the host of All Things Considered on WEMU. You can contact Lisa at 734.487.3363, on Twitter @LisaWEMU, or email her at lbarryma@emich.edu