Peony perfection

While a vast proportion of Australians gears up for the race that stops the nation at the beginning of November, nothing could be further from the minds of Victorian peony farmers Virginia and Bernie McIntosh. November is peony month at Romswood Farm and all thoughts of horses, fashion and Champagne are banished as the McIntoshes ready themselves for their annual harvest.

It’s not just a simple matter of picking over Romswood’s 8000 plants once or, when it’s hot, twice a day. It’s all-hands-on-deck as the kids come home from uni to help out and the staff in the packing shed work