Ron Boekel speaks with great fervour about his peonies, particularly his 9,000 tree peonies.
He has them growing “in every conceivable colour, from pure black to the darkest of yellows” on his and wife Sharon’s 3.4ha Monbulk property, as well as herbaceous varieties and a cross between the two, called an Itoh Peony.
Mr Boekel has had the land since he was 21 and has been growing the beautiful flowering plants for about 30 years, having fallen in love with the shrubs when his father was growing them.
He is also an avid collector of rare and unusual species, and even owns five deceased people’s lifetime collections.