A little background...

Referred to as the "father of the modern hybrid peony" by Allan Rogers in his book "Peonies", A. P. Saunders was one of the early members of the American Peony Society. Today, nearly 50 years after his death, his peonies are among some of the most sought after plants. The following article by Harry McGee tells us something of A. P. Saunders' family and background. For readers wishing to learn specifics about his work with peonies, I recommend the American Peony Society Publications "The American Hybrid Peony" and "The American Peony Society 75 Years"

Harry's fascinating article is accompanied by the peony images of botanical artist Karen Nisbett. The images are reproduced here with her permission. Karen also created the image of peony 'Le Printemps' that appears on this web site as our logo.

Visit the link at the end of the article to view a some of Prof. Saunders' herbaceous peony hybrids.

The beautiful illustrations that accompany this article are the work of botanical artist Karen Opp. More of her work, as well as how to contact her, can be found on her web site.

Lindsay D'Aoust

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ARTHUR PERCY SAUNDERS
1869, London, Ontario - 1953, Clinton, New York

Percy Saunders was born in his family's new home on Dundas Street in London, Ontario, on the 22nd March 1869 just as spring was awakening the gardens and re-clothing the woods. He had an older sister, Annie, and three older brothers, William, Henry, and Charles. One more brother, Frederick, would complete the family. They were the children of William and Agnes Saunders who had both come to Canada West about twenty years earlier from England as youngsters, met and married in London.

Percy's father, William Saunders, in his lifetime, changed Canada indelibly, having recommended, established, and directed for 25 years the network of Dominion Experimental Farms that gave this nation the kick-start needed to make settlement of the prairies possible. Prior to going to Ottawa, he did a great deal of hybridizing on his own, and one result was the creation of the earliest Canadian-bred rose still in commerce, 'Agnes' - a pale amber shrub rose named for his wife. She was well educated herself and saw to it that the children did not reckon success in terms of money grubbing, but had a wide appreciation of the fine arts and music in particular. She read to them daily. Each child learned to play one or more instruments; each started scientific collections which fuelled future interests. And over all was a self effacing social consciousness shaped by two clergyman grandfathers. William Saunders took his children with him to garden and orchard and let them participate in his hybridizing programs and insect studies. They all blossomed into what is regarded as one of the most amazing families the world has ever seen.

Annie was the family pillar, a photographer and music critic. William E. was a businessman, naturalist and tenor. Henry was a professional cellist and authority on Whitman. Charles was a professor of chemistry, musician, knighted for developing 'Marquis' wheat, French literary contributor. And the youngest, Fred, was a professor of physics at Harvard, ornithologist and musician.

Percy was from the same mould. He was a professor of chemistry, musician, peony hybridizer and college dean. He is remembered today for his work with peonies, a hobby which made him rather famous. Percy Saunders' birthplace in London is now marked by a bilingual plaque mounted by the government to mark the historic home. He went to London's public and collegiate schools, then on to U of Toronto for a BA degree. Then to Baltimore's John Hopkins where he obtained a Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1894. But along the way, he studied violin so that at 13 he played in a string quartet at the first concert given by the Saunders family in London. He had art classes on summer vacation at Murray Bay (now Malbaie) in Québec; more in Brittany followed by travel in both France and England with brother Fred. He and his brother Charles helped their father in the hybridizing of earlier-ripening wheat at the Central Experimental Farm, a work which Charles led to success and recognition.

Percy's professional career began as a chemistry instructor at U of Wisconsin. Then there were two years of post-doctoral study in Germany. Then he was a research assistant at McGill; next a research fellow at Cornell; then an assistant professor at Hamilton College, Clinton, NY. Here he found his spiritual home.

It was 1900. The college provided its students an all-round education as well as formal studies. All these things exactly suited Percy Saunders. Students enjoyed being near him to share his interest in music, art, literature, astronomy. He radiated enthusiasm. He was a sort of Mr. Chips. He was promptly made a full professor, and in 1909, appointed Dean of the College, a position he held for 30 years.

Professor Saunders grew up in a home where hybridizing was as commonplace as combing your hair. He surrounded his home on campus with flowers and began crossing them. He became absorbed with peonies, acquiring a huge collection. One of his first peony cultivars was 'Silvia Saunders' named after one of his four children - the one who in later years continued his peony work. Then he produced so many well accepted varieties that he became well known among horticulturists in Canada and the States. He served the American Peony Society as its secretary and later its president. In 1916, he influenced the founding of its Bulletin and edited its first 16 numbers. He initiated the society's system of rating peony performance. In 1928, he received the highest award, the President's Cup at an exhibition in Boston for his tree peony 'Argosy' - lemon-yellow, with red markings in the centre surrounding the golden stamens. He won awards regularly including the Scott Award (a medal and $1000) as the person who contributed most to horticulture. He was an achiever just like all the rest of the family.

He had more time for other interests when he retired at 70, especially his peonies. Students met in his home. So did faculty, alumni and trustees. There was an incredible outpouring of grief when he died in 1953. His ashes are buried in the cemetery of the college he loved. On his grave, the peony 'Argosy' keeps watch.

© H. McGee 2000

Reprinted with permission

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Harry McGee
41 Outer Drive,
London, Ontario
N6P 1E1

Email: Rosecom@Lonet.ca
Website: www.mirror.org/people/harry.mcgee/rosebank.html

Photos of Some of Saunders' Peonies

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