PEONY TRAIL

Photo courtesy: You Know You Are From Dubuque When...

Metal trail marker. Photo courtesy: Bob Reding

PEONY TRAIL. Edwin B. LYONS, remembered for the E. B. LYONS INTERPRETATIVE CENTER bearing his name, established Dubuque's famous "peony trail" in memory of his wife Ella B. LYONS who originated the idea for the DUBUQUE CIVIC GARDEN CLUB. (1)

The trail was a project begun in 1938. In the first year, volunteers planted 6,000 peony plants during September and October. The goal was to have 10,000 planted along the fifteen miles of streets from the MOUNT CARMEL MOTHERHOUSE along Grandview Avenue and north to EAGLE POINT PARK and in the local parks. (2) Residents dividing their own plants in the fall were asked to contribute to the project or send in one dollar. (3) A call to a member of the Garden Club would result in someone coming to the contributor's home to pick up the plant. Financial contributions were also welcomed. (4)

In 1944 more than 100,000 blooms were expected. Trail markers were put in place and some of the larger beds were marked for the first time with a special sign indicating the variety. Large beds were to be found in WASHINGTON PARK where the trail began. Another large bed of 269 white and light pink varieties were planted in front of ST. RAPHAEL'S CATHEDRAL. CLEVELAND PARK had a bed of 461 plants and GRANDVIEW PARK claimed 481 plants. Grandview Avenue treated the viewer to over 4,000 clumps of plants. More than 1,000 clumps of peonies bordered the entrance of EAGLE POINT PARK. (5) By 1946 a ton of fertilizer had been donated by the Civic Garden Club for the trail. (6)

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Source:

1. Lyons, Mrs. E. B. Lyons, "More Peonies to be Planted," Telegraph-Herald, August 20, 1939, p. 3

2. "Peony Trail in Full Bloom," Telegraph-Herald, June 4, 1944, p. 13

3. "Peony Planting is Urged Here," Telegraph Herald, September 3, 1939, p. 17

4. Lyons

5. "Peony Trail..."

6. "Gorgeous Peony Trail Forecast," Telegraph Herald, May 12, 1946, p. 14