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FABLES FARMS | PEONY ESTATE & STUDIO | OHIO

@fablesfarms

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Historic Estate on the Olentangy River
Curators of Rare & Heirloom Peonies
Rooted in Agricultural Heritage
American Peony Society Member
Delaware, OH

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

It’s the beginning of fawning season! With urban sprawl surrounding us, the fields and gardens on our historic farm become a safe haven for mother deer to tuck away their newborn fawns.

Peonies: Mons Jules Elie & Duchess De Nemuers

#peony #peonies #pinkpeonies #pinkpeony #monsjuleseliepeony #duchessdenemours #whitepeonies #whitepeony #fawn #deer #whitetail #historicfarm #monsjuleselie #duchessdenemourspeony taken in Fables Farms by @fablesfarms

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3 years ago

Many of the best stories are grown, not told. Thank you for joining us here at the start of our season. 🌸

For those I haven’t yet met, my name is Elizabeth. Fables Farms is the labor and blossoming of a 20-year dream, but my roots in the soil go back further than the country itself. My family began farming in America before its founding, with a lineage stretching back to Whitworth Hall ( @whitworthhall ) in England.

As a 5th+ generation farmer, my history is woven with both grand scales and deep losses. My ancestors established one of the largest nurseries in the U.S. before the Great Depression, serving as premier florists of the Gilded Age. They decorated the homes of the Astors and Vanderbilts and landscaped estates like John D. Rockefeller’s Lakewood. They were also master breeders, developing the ‘Alice Roosevelt’ rose: the first pure white rose without a blushing center.

Faced with urban sprawl and potential eminent domain, my grandparents sold the ancestral farm in New Jersey and relocated to Wisconsin’s Amish country, where I was raised on a sprawling dairy farm. It was there, in my grandmother’s peony garden, that I spent 30 years learning that beauty is something earned alongside the grit of rural life.

In my 20s, that path took me from the Midwest to the hustle of Tokyo. I worked in design and marketing, taught at Aoyama Gakuin, and even moonlighted in Japanese music videos. Yet every spring, I found myself drawn to the quiet of Japanese gardens, amongst the peonies. Whether in the Midwest or East Asia, peonies have always been my universal language of home.

When I returned to the States and married my Ohioan sweetheart, we spent years searching for a place with an old soul. We found it on the banks of the Olentangy River at the Norman Dewey Perry Estate (est. 1859). Here, I’ve planted my heritage: a collection of rare cultivars, inherited roots from Grammy’s garden, and the wisdom of three decades of dirt under my fingernails.

To me, and to many of you, peonies carry the stories of days gone by. My desire is to cultivate that legacy for years to come.

Elizabeth | Co-owner & Peony Cognoscente

Featured Peonies: Kansas, Do Tell & Red Charm A woman with long brown hair wearing a white vintage-style dress, sitting in front of a rustic stone building. She is holding a large bouquet of deep fuchsia peonies, with more peonies in a silver vase and a galvanized bucket nearby. taken in Fables Farms by @fablesfarms

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6 months ago

Introducing the Fables Farms’ Potted Peony Debut Collection!

We have spent several seasons dreaming, planning, and carefully curating a collection of peonies specifically chosen for their exceptional performance right here in our Central Ohio climate (Zone 6B).

This debut lineup is comprised of rare, artisan, and heirloom varieties; each one grown without pesticides from a minimum of three-year-old plant divisions, and chosen for its beauty, unique character, and ability to thrive in our local soil. These aren’t just plants; they are future family heirlooms for your garden.

We invite you to turn the pages of this season’s gallery and wander through the collection:

RASPBERRY SUNDAE
Heirloom Series ✤ Herbaceous Lactiflora ✤ Bomb Bloom ✤ Raspberry, Vanilla & Cream

GREEN HALO
Rare Series ✤ Herbaceous Lactiflora ✤ Semi-Double Bloom ✤ Spring Green, Fresh White & Sunshine Yellow

BUTTER BOWL
Artisan Series ✤ Herbaceous Lactiflora ✤ Japanese Bloom ✤ Porcelain Pink & Butter

HOT CHOCOLATE
Artisan Series ✤ Herbaceous Lactiflora ✤ Japanese Bloom ✤ Rich Chocolate Red

GARDENIA
Heirloom Series ✤ Herbaceous Lactiflora ✤ Double Bloom ✤ Gardenia White

BARTZELLA
Artisan Series ✤ Intersectional Itoh ✤ Full Double Bloom ✤ Sunshine Yellow

SARAH BERNHARDT
Heirloom Series ✤ Herbaceous Lactiflora ✤ Double Bloom ✤ Apple-Blossom Pink

KANSAS
Heirloom Series ✤ Herbaceous Lactiflora ✤ Double Bloom ✤ Ruby Red Slipper

MISS AMERICA
Heirloom Series ✤ Herbaceous Lactiflora ✤ Semi-Double Bloom ✤ Radiant White

FESTIVA MAXIMA (Not Pictured)
Heirloom Series ✤ Herbaceous Lactiflora ✤ Double Bloom ✤ Fresh Cream & Berry

ANGEL CHEEKS (Not Pictured)
Heirloom Series ✤ Herbaceous Lactiflora ✤ Bomb Bloom ✤ Cameo Pink

As these are rare and limited quantities, the collection is available only while our stock permits. If you have been wishing to welcome a truly exceptional, locally-proven peony into your garden, we look forward to helping you choose your living heirloom.

If you are in the greater Columbus, Ohio area, join us on Saturdays at the @mainstreetdelawareinc Farmers’ Market from 9am - 12pm.

LIVING AFAR? Follow along for our forthcoming garden wares and future shippable varieties. A close-up, top-down view of a lush bouquet of 'Raspberry Sundae' peonies held by a hand against a rustic, weathered wood background. The flowers feature dense, layered petals in shades of soft confectionery pink and creamy ivory center fluff. At the top, a muted olive-green banner reads "Fables Farms' Potted Peony Debut Collection" in elegant white serif typography. A fine gold border frames the entire composition, and a deep burgundy wax seal stamped with a bee and "Fables Farms The Market" sits in the bottom right corner. taken in Fables Farms by @fablesfarms

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5 months ago

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3 days ago

The dog days of summer may be behind us, but the Garden Griffs are thriving. In fact, autumn just might be their favorite time of year!

While we plant, harvest, and pot, our Brussels Griffons, Billiam Murray and Gretel Lou, play tag between the peony rows, chase the vibrant green black walnuts that come pummeling off the barn roof, and keep all the dangerous squirrels in their proper place at the top of the mulberry tree. The fields are their playground.

We love these days. Fresh apples to snack on in the Gator, the smell of wet autumn leaves and freshly tilled earth, and the simple pleasure of working and playing in the cool autumn air.

There is plenty to do before spring returns, but these are the days we’ll remember 🍂🐾.

Featured peony roots: Raspberry Charm

Featured dried peonies: Pink Charmer, Coral Supreme, Sarah Bernhardt & Gardenia

#thegardengriffs #driedpeonies #peonyroots #peonyfarm #brusselsgriffon An overhead view of two small, tan Brussels Griffon dogs looking up at the camera. They are surrounded by an autumn arrangement of red apples in a copper bowl, green walnuts in a basket, dried colorful flowers in a boot, antique metal pails filled with peony tubers, tulip bulbs, and scattered fallen leaves. taken in Fables Farms by @fablesfarms

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6 days ago

The ever so sweet Candy Stripe peony…

Rare ✤ Herbaceous Lactiflora ✤ Double Bloom ✤ Classic Red & White

Like the classic peppermint candies, these fresh white, rose-shaped blooms are striped throughout with vibrant candy-cane red markings. These large striking flowers have a pleasantly crisp, candy-like sweet scent.

#candystripepeony #rarepeony #peonyfarm #ohiopeonyfarm #rareflowers A hand holds a generous cluster of Candy Stripe peonies against the weathered stone wall of a historic farm. The ruffled white and pale pink blooms feature striking raspberry-red stripes, with lush green foliage beneath them. Each flower displays a unique pattern of candy-like markings. taken in Fables Farms by @fablesfarms

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7 days ago

A peony dream begins with autumn soil and patience...

Just like those early days, we are back out in the soil, looking forward to what comes next. If you have been watching our stories recently, you can probably tell we are already preparing for spring. As the leaves turn, we return to the fields to plant, and to the potting bench to pot the next collection of blooms destined to enchant your home and garden next spring.

Our heart’s desire is to grow something lasting among our community and friends. Having you here alongside us makes every season feel that much more meaningful. Thank you for believing in our little corner of the world.

We would love to invite you to follow along on our journey this autumn as we prepare the grounds with new rare and heirloom varieties, and share a few sneak peeks of what we will be bringing to our spring 2027 collection.

Featured peonies: Coral Charm and Lemon Chiffon

A special thank you to our charming little models in bibs who made our blooms even sweeter 🌸.

#ohiopeonyfarm #lemonchiffonpeony #coralcharmpeony #peonyfarm #fieldofdreams A young blonde girl in denim overalls stands in a wide, green grass field surrounded by lush trees, looking toward the camera. Text overlay reads: "A FIELD OF DREAMS. THE BEGINNING OF OUR STORY..." taken in Fables Farms by @fablesfarms

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10 days ago

A little Saturday morning sweetness from Fables Farms!

Featured peonies: Mr. Ed, Belleville, Raspberry Sundae and Do Tell

#mredpeony #kittensinthegarden #bellevillepeony #raspberrysundaepeony #dotellpeony Centered shot of a grey and white kitten sitting upright between lush pink and white peonies, looking straight ahead against a rustic wooden backdrop. taken in Fables Farms by @fablesfarms

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22 days ago

The pretty and perfectly pink ‘Panther Blush’ peony 🩷.

This blushing beauty made her debut at Fables earlier this year, and we were delighted by her strong, regal presence. Her fragrance is light, with just a touch of that sweet, old-fashioned spice we love so much in a peony.

With her beautiful form, sturdy stems, and charming pink coloring, ‘Panther Blush’ would make a lovely addition to any spring cutting garden.

‘Panther Blush’ is another first-year bloom we’re looking forward to watching develop in the seasons to come.

#pantherblushpeony #ohiopeonyfarm #peonyseason #pinkpeonies #ayearinflowers A large, fully open pink ‘Panther Blush’ peony with layers of ruffled petals, held in a hand against an aged stone wall. A smaller pink peony bud and lush green foliage are visible beside the bloom. taken in Fables Farms by @fablesfarms

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25 days ago

Why embracing a little autumn imperfection yields magnificent spring blooms…

Here at Fables Farms, we patiently wait until autumn has truly finished its work before cutting back our herbaceous and intersectional (Itoh) peonies.

As summer draws to a close, a peony’s foliage may lose its luster, showing brown spots, hints of powdery mildew, or simply the weariness of a long summer. Yet even these weathered leaves are still at work, capturing the last of the season’s sunlight and sending energy down to the roots below. That stored energy helps fuel strong, abundant growth when spring returns.

Once the foliage has naturally died back, often following the first hard frost in late October or early November here in Zone 6b (greater Columbus, Ohio), the leaves will dry and turn a rich brown, signaling that the plant is entering winter dormancy. That is our cue that autumn cleanup may begin. Removing the spent foliage at this point also helps maintain good garden sanitation and reduces the amount of diseased plant material left to overwinter.

So, if your peonies are looking less than perfect this time of year, don’t be too quick to reach for the gardening shears just yet. Autumn imperfection is often part of the natural process.

Have a question or concern about caring for your beloved peonies this fall? Leave a comment below or send us a message. We’re always happy to help.

🥀 We’ll soon be sharing our guide to properly tidying your herbaceous and intersectional peonies for their winter rest, so they may awaken beautifully with next spring’s first kiss.

#peonyfarm #peonycare #columbusohio #peonytips #peonygarden taken in Fables Farms by @fablesfarms

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a month ago

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a month ago

THE BEE & THE DOVE

A thirsty bee went to drink from a clear, cool brook; but the current snatched her away and carried her downstream. A Dove, pitying her distressed condition, clipped a small branch from a neighboring tree and dropped it into the water: by means of which the bee saved herself and got ashore.

Not long after, a fowler planted his nets to capture the dove. Just as he was about to draw them closed on the unaware bird, the little bee flew in and stung him on the heel, startling the fowler and causing him to drop his nets, giving the dove enough time to fly to safety.

Moral: No act of kindness is too small, and every good deed will be rewarded in time.

With rising concerns over declining bee and firefly populations, we have dedicated over 3-acres as a sanctuary to protect wild bees, butterflies, ladybugs, and fireflies, providing them a quiet place to feast, rest, and thrive. By caring for nature’s smallest creatures, they return the favor by keeping our ecosystem in harmony.

We are hoping to host an apiary on the farm in the near future. We are looking to partner with a passionate local beekeeper who can manage the hives, and we are happy to provide the supplies and space.

If you or a beekeeper you know in the Columbus, Ohio area might be interested, please reach out or send us a message 🐝!

#savethebees #ohiopeonyfarm #pollinatorgarden #savethefireflies #peonyfarm taken in Fables Farms by @fablesfarms

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2 months ago