Good friends, Wine, cheese...and Flowers.

[Smokin Don]

looks like a great time Tee!!! Beautiful flower photos !!! I have not seen that many varieties of peonies in ages. I grew up near Van Wert Ohio that had a peony farm and they had a peony parade every year in the 50's. They had a lot of floats covered with peonies and it was larger than the Rose Bowl parade. Don

[teesquare]

That parade must have been a sight Don!...And I will bet they sold of ant-killer at the hardwares stores that week too!

These folks really know their peonies - and figs. Ricardo is known as "The Fig Doctor". He works with UC Berkley and another university I think... on developing growing methods and cultivars of figs for those of us in climates that normally could not produce figs because of a shorter season, and lower average temps. Basically - they are bonsai fig trees  in 5 gal containers. And - it works!
Here are a couple of websites for Ricardo and Susanne:

http://wildcatridgefarm.com/Wildcat_Ridge_Farm/Welcome.html

And a little about Ricardo in his "chef uniform"....the man is a genuis cook!
http://mountainx.com/food/small-bites-mountain-cooking-club/

http://chefricardoskitchen.com/chefricardoskitchen.com/Home.html