Saginaw's Flower, The Peony
- Castle Museum
- May 7, 2020
- 1 min read
“This department (garden) sold so many peony bushes in 1924, that the city council named the peony the Saginaw flower.” From a History of the Saginaw Woman’s Club
Did you know the Saginaw flower is the peony?
The peony is Saginaw’s official city flower. This designation, made by the city council in 1924, was the result of the Saginaw Woman’s Club campaign that advocated for the peony as a means of community beautification. Their work went beyond lobbying efforts it included: community education, planting peonies throughout the city and holding annual community flower shows. The peony was chosen because it could be grown by anyone in the community regardless of the wealth and size of their property. Many leaders of this group would go on to become founding members of the Saginaw Chapter of the Woman’s National Farm and Garden Association.
With a view of making Saginaw more beautiful . . . members are sponsoring a move to make Saginaw the ‘Peony city of Michigan.’ The Saginaw Daily News
Photo from the Saginaw Woman's Club
We have more history on our website – to learn more the Garden Department of the Saginaw’s Woman’s Club and explore their photo album, please visit https://www.castlemuseum.org/saginaw-womans-garden-club
Does the Wacky Flip Saginaw community continue to maintain the same peony-related activities as it did in the past, such as festivals, educational programs, or beautification campaigns? And if so, what role do today’s youth play in continuing these values?
It's remarkable to see a flower like the peony not only beautify the city of Saginaw, but also be associated with the community spirit, resilience, and Agar io vision of its women—a vibrant symbol of beauty, equality, and collective strength.