A Peony party at my house, come take a look!

Last Friday, I hosted the second annual peony party at my farm in Bedford, NY.  The peonies, as you can see, were spectacular.  When my gardens are looking so amazing, I just love sharing with my friends.  The weather looked a bit iffy all day long with rain showers threatening.  However, shortly before the first guests arrived, the clouds vanished and the evening was splendid!  Pierre, as usual, did a fine job with the hors d’oeuvres.  Everything was lovely and delicious.  Unfortunately, I cannot share too much about the food with you since it was professionally photographed for my upcoming book on elegant entertaining.  You’ll just have to wait. 

Here I am cutting so many peonies!

Standing is a sea of fragrant blooms

Sharkey taking a good stretch before the party.

MSLO Employees Eliad Laskin and Liesl Menning

Peony decorations

Charles Koppelman, Chairman of the Board

David Melancon and MSLO SVP of Merchandising Michael Mosca

My long time housekeeper Lily

Here I am with Joe and Michele Reed

Stylist Tom Borgese

My gardeners Kim, George, and Erika

Here I am at the beautiful food buffet.

Here I am with chef Pierre, who looks very happy.

Mike and Mary Tedesco.  Mary is my personal trainer.

Stephen Doyle and Gael Towey, Gael is the Chief Creative Officer for MSLO

John and Carlyn McCaffrey

Dr. Marty Goldstein and his lovely wife Mary

Our CFO Howard Hochhauser and his wife Cindy

Photo Illustration Director Heloise Goodman and her husband Andrew Thomas

Weddings Editorial Director Darcy Miller Nussbaum and her husband Andy

My Property Director, Mike Fiore

Howard Christian and Bunny Williams

What is Chevy talking about?

Gardener Erika Hanson and Community Relations and Events Coordinator Erin Furey

My neighbor and photographer Peter Michaelis

Gael Towey and my assistant Kate Shillo

Chevy and Grainne Bailey

Peter Macgill and Grainne Bailey

Chevy’s Daughter Cydney, Jennifer Juzaitis , Errol Rudman, me and Chevy Chase 

For more photos from the party please take a look at our radio blog.

Comments

[Nik]

What a great idea! I absolutely love flowers and wish that I could see those peonies. I'll bet they're beautiful.

[theresa]

Wow your peonies are fabulous. I especially loved the way you arranged them. The peonie is a beautiful flower; so fleet in it's presence like the scent of an iris or honeysuckle vine that the wind sent your way..The summer is natures love song.

[Ingrid Moyle]

What a delightful garden party. The peonies are beautiful. A brilliant idea to celebrate such a wonderful bloom. I am about to celebrate my birthday (next week actually) and will (as usual) be using all your recipes in my celebration, including your brilliant baked ham (a standard for me), crab cakes, and the chocolate ginger cookies and outrageous chocolate cookies from your cookies book. Thank you for leading the way.

[Gilda]

My, all these tempting tidbits for your upcoming book! Now we MUST all purchase it, if only to see all the particulars of the Peony Party...totally lovely and usual...next should be a tulipmania party next spring!

[Brian]

It looks like you had a GREAT party with a beautiful and fragrant theme.
By the way, do your cats come out to the gardens as they did at Turkey Hill? I don't see you blog too much about them. Sharkey and Francesca probably like to chase them around the property!

[Paula]

Looks like a wonderful time !!!! The peonys a beautiful, mine are also in full bloom in northern Ct. !!!

[Charlotte]

I LOVE what Gail Towey is wearing. It's so country-club chic. I am going to run right out and get a little bright cardigan to go over a pretty dress I already own. Everyone looks very nice too but there is something about her ensemble that really stands out.

[stacey]

Peonies are my all time favorite flower. Yours look absolutely exquisite. I envy your peony garden. How wonderful to be able to go out every day and cut as many as you'd like! Any suggestions for starting one on a smaller scale? Thanks for sharing, Martha!

[Maureen]

What a great blog! Peonies are just beautiful. You have a lovely home and gardens.

[Erin @ The Skinny Gourmet]

Wow, those peonies are spectacular. Growing up, my neighbor had bushes and bushes of peonies, so we were always spoiled to have some of those gorgeous big blooms on our table. now living in Chicago where there are few such gardens in the city limits, I really miss them.

[Matthew]

Stunning, as I'm sure the new book will be!

[Dedric Clark]

What a wonderful party it must have been. Your Bedford home was the perfect spot for such an occasion

[Trish]

If my garden looked like your gardens do, I'd like to share with friends too. Everyone seems to be enjoying a peony party; you think of everything. I am anxious to see your new book when it comes out which will be....?
Enjoy your weekend. Trish

[mirc]

Thanks..

[Pfatty]

We just moved from the north (MD)to the south (Charleston, SC) & of all the flowers I had in my MD. gardens that I miss most are my peonies! It was a pleasure to see your beautiful peony gardens. Thank you.
Patty Eckels
ps-if you have an idea how I can grow them here, let me know!

[Lorrainwe Williams]

Wow wish I could grow them .....

[Pam from California]

Wonderful photos, love the one of you in your hat picking your flowers. Reminds me of MSL days. These couples look so relaxed and happy no wonder being in such beautiful surroundings. Chevy looks to be talking about a plane landing or taking off aye!
Love the pix of you and Pierre you must have told him he is getting a big fat raise just before someone snapped this pix right lol!
Send some flowers my way here in CA ours are dying in the 100 degree heat~
Many blessings to you Martha & staff.
Pam from California

[Andrew Ritchie]

Looks like a fantastic party, Martha! I have both of Bunny Williams' interior decorating books: "An Affair With a House" and her latest "Bunny Williams' Point of View." They're both exquisite books with lots of advice to share. Looking forward to your new one!

-Andrew

[Angie D]

Yipeee..... a new book. When??????

[Laura Martens]

What fun! This is my first time viewing your blog and I so enjoyed seeing you in your element. It looks like you really do have great parties!

[Paula M. :)]

Martha,
You look so relaxed in your peony garden with your hat!
Glad the rain held off for your peony party! What a spectacular event! Your new peony bed is so beautiful that I can't imagine what the peony scent emmulating from the field is like? Wow!!
Can't wait for your new Entertaining book..great guests. Nice to see old faces who have been with you a long time! (Gail, Stephen, Darcy). Chevy looks great too.
Thanks for sharing,
Paula

[Noreen]

I love to go through your site and like reading the blog too. I am diagnosed with cancer and this really is nice to see all the things you do all the time on your property there. When my days are bad, I sit here and this makes me forget about things. The peonies were fabulous. We just adore them too. They are nature's best and most beautiful. HOpe you have a wonderful summer and looking forward to seeing the July shows!

[Jannell Chandler]

Dear Martha,
Thank you for sharing your peonies with us. I love the ones I have... and now I want MANY more. The snapshots of the party were great.
Huge Chevy Chase Fan!!! Thanks for all the laughter!

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, What a beautiful peony garden party you had at your magnificent farm in Bedford! Everyone looks so relaxed and happy, especially you. Your photos are absolutely gorgeous. I love the photo of Sharkey, who also looks happy and relaxed. Can't wait to see your new Entertainment book with all of those magnificent photos from your special parties. Have a great weekend. Jan

[Robin]

What a fabulous party! Who but Martha would think of having a party to celebrate such a grand flower as the peony. I enjoy looking at all the beautiful people who attend your party. Martha thanks for giving me a peek into your life and teaching me to celebrate the good things in life. I look forward to another great book from Martha Stewart. I will be sure to buy a copy.