Hundreds of peony-lovers showed up at the Arnosky Blue Barn throughout the weekend to attend the second annual Peony Party.

More than 100 boxes of branded “Superior Peonies” were sold at Arnosky’s Blue Barn over the weekend, making their way by refrigerated transport from the Arnosky’s 11 acres in Toimi, Minnesota, in the Northwoods region of Lake Superior. The peony farm there is home to 17,000 plants.

“We are still providing Central Markets ‘locally’ and a few HEB Blooms stores with peonies,” Pamela Arnosky said. “We sold probably in the neighborhood of 4,000 stems.”

People from all over visited the barn to pick peonies still in their unopened ball shape after being picked in the Minnesota cool temperatures and shipped on a refrigerated truck to Blanco. The blooms were gradually opening at the day heated up.

The Arnosky’s main varieties grown are Sarah Bernhardt, Festiva Maxima, Felix Supreme, Kansas, Mons Jules and Marie Le Moine peonies.

“An interesting factoid: the big storm that roared through here on June 9th was part of the huge front that stretched across the U.S.,” she said. “On June 12, northern Minnesota temperatures went down to 26 degrees, the latest cold snap in anyone’s memory. To add to the incredible story, out in the Davis Mountains (site of their West Texas peony farm), there were several violent hailstorms in June. So, no matter where you farm, or how you try to spread your bets, Mother Nature holds the cards for your ultimate success as a farmer.”

The Arnosky’s also have a West Texas Peony Project underway to build peony stock for next year’s production that would be available in April.