One of my lovely readers emailed me the other day to tell me that she had found my blog
months ago after goggling old linens and textiles, yet had hesitated to contact me, fearing
that her English wasn’t good enough. Our combined adoration of peonies put us on the same
page, yet again, and she sent me photos of her gorgeous tree peonies, and, after prompting,
told me a little more about herself and sent additional photos of her wonderful part of
the world in the south west of France…
My name is Karin Jansky. I’m a German Antique dealer and Interior consultant,
living in the Périgord. Being an Antique Dealer combined with Interior consultancy
for about 30 years. The last 10 years I worked (exhibited) at the Decorative Antiques
and Textiles Fair in London-Battersea, which is 3 times a year, I know Jane Sacchi
quite well, she is the vetter for the textiles…
Incredible bush of tree peonies in Karin’s garden. Tree peonies require less chilling than
the herbaceous variety, have larger blooms, sometimes as large as dinner plates! The
blooms are ragged edged, ethereal tissues that emote into deeper tones and markings in
the center. Karin sums up their incredible history:
The tree peony, known as “Mudan” in Chinese, has been grown as an ornamental
plant since the Sui Dynasty (581-618) or even earlier. Paintings and literature suggest
that the tree peony has been associated with Chinese culture for over 3.000 years. “Mu”
means male, and “dan” means red. “Mudan” means “a plant that can reproduce by both
seed and sucker. Tree peony has also been called “Hua Wang” which means “The King of
Flowers”, and “Fu Gui Hua”, which means wealthy and honorable. Height up to 2 meter,
and some of them can get up to 500 years old! They are a bit “capricious” if they don’t
like a place in the garden, but if they do…..what a pleasure!
In general in German we call them “Pfingstrosen” which means Whitsun roses
(because of the flowering season around Whitsun) and in the South of Germany
where I’m grown up on the country side they are called “Bauernrosen” = Farmer’s roses.
Just love May with it’s fresh green, special light early mornings, special blue sky’s,
our birds are singing and we had such a, for our region unusual, long and cold winter.
it’s so exiting for me to stroll around my simple country garden, discovering new
blossoms coming up. A glint of color here, a little bit there. Simple but good!
This lovely white, tinged pink in bud rose was Karin’s mother’s favorite rose…
it reminds me of my Frau Karl Druschki, a c. 1901 Hybrid Perpetual
Coppery pink with a lavender blue salvia
I’m besotted with the stone house behind the roses…
A deep velvety red clambering against the shutters…
Karin showed me many of her antiques as well…
French fire-gilded bronze curtain rings
Napoleon III, c. 1860…
Used as napkin rings
Gilded Italian sconce
c. 1800
The gilded top of an 18th century
French mirror…
At the base of the stairs…one of a set of French chairs from a suite,
Attributed to Paul Follot, 1930-40’s
Beautiful vignette…
I would love to share the beauty of nature and history with somebody.
Peonies, gardens, French stone houses, shutters, antiques…
all my favorites…
Thank you for sharing them all with us Karin!
This is what Dreams are made of — surely Heaven Sent –(Scent.) enlivening.five senses and nourishment for heart and soul. SIGH!
Thanks for sharing Karin posting it Trish…
Enjoy your week end
Joanny
Beautiful as we head into winter and all the leaves are falling
She has a beautiful garden and beautiful treasures. YOU both have common points , for sure
Isn’t it lovely to meet and make friends in all parts of the world? You and Karin certainly have much in common. Her gardens and antiques are stunning…and, I too am taken with the stone house!
Have a wonderful day…
Oh my! Peonies AND antiques!!!!!!! Those blooms are just incredible!!!!!! Great post.
What beautiful flowers! Alas they don’t grow here but i bought some… Those tree peonies I have never seen before, how gorgeous they are!!!!!!!!! Thanks for introuducing Karin, and sharing pictures of her beautiful home in the Perigord. Maryanne xo
What a lovely little tour – I’m so glad that she contacted you so that you could share all this with us!
I have never seen some of those varieties of peonies before, and they’re just luscious!
I have already fallen in love with the staircase!
Hi Trish,
This post was pure eye candy! Love peonies and antiques. Karin has such a gorgeous home and garden. Thanks for sharing with us. BTW, your antique rose suggestions for Greet are wonderful too. Can’t you just see them in her garden?
My favorite combo, as well!
Tree peonies, antiques with a little gilt thrown in! Yummy!
o thank so much for sharing… those peonies are unbelievable..maybe one day you can look her up..can you imagine the two of you….bet you will go on nonstop for days.!I cannot imagine a better place to be a antique dealer..sigh….
even before I read your comment about the stone wall, I knew I was going to mention that…Just LOVE it!..have a lovely day.Colx
I grew some gorgeous peonies when I lived in Massachusetts… since they don’t do well here in Texas I have been wanting to get the tree peony. Karin’s look so beautiful… as is her home! Thank you for sharing… and have a wonderful weekend… Terri
Karin’s garden is a fairy tale beauty. I think she should start a blog!
Nancy
Hi Trish,
That is the wonderful thing about blogging, meeting people from all around the world and thanks for sharing Karin’s beautiful home, garden and antiques.
As it is coming into winter over here, was delightful to see so much beauty on this grey and overcast day.
Thank you Trish and Karin.
I hope that you are having a beautiful weekend
Hugs
Carolyn
Merci beaucoup Trish for this wonderful post – I’am greatly honored as well as the peonies are!
And thanks to all of you for your warm-hearted comments.
Greetings from the Périgord – karin
Dear Trish, what a lovely post, and I can’t agree more with all the visual eye candy and soul stirring sentiments that blogging has made possible for me. I love the connection and exchange of ideas and musings from women all over the world.Thank you again for making it a smaller,more tangible place we live in. Karin is a very creative and inspiring find! Peonies and antiques, perfect. Nella
Wonderfully said, Nella! I bet your garden is looking more beautiful every day!