Laurence D. Baker and his peonies. (Photo provided)
By KELLY McVEY
President, Indiana Peony Festival, Inc.
As Hoosiers, we take pride in our Midwest culture. We have bountiful farmlands, we worship the great sport of basketball, and we think the month of May is a black-and-white-checkered Christmas!
But what about our state flower? How did the peony earn the title of Indiana’s state flower? Here’s a story about how the month of May and the peony go hand-in-hand.
Peonies first arrived in the United States in the 1800s, after having been cultivated in China, Siberia, and Japan for more than 2,000 years. With 40 species and more than 6,500 cultivars and hybrids, peonies can produce beautiful blooms every spring for decades – even generations.
Originally popular as grave decorations, peonies became the Indiana state flower in 1957, when Gov. Harold Handley signed a bill in honor of Rep. Laurence D. Baker and his wife Frances of Kendallville, Ind., who started their peony business in 1925.
Laurence served in the Indiana General Assembly from 1945 to 1958, during which he and Frances planted peonies on the Statehouse lawn and gave away carloads of blooms for events. Laurence even presented a peony bouquet to aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart.
The Bakers ran four peony farms throughout the state to meet the high demand for blooms on “Decoration Day,” when families traditionally spent Memorial Day adorning the graves of loved ones with peonies.
Today, the Bakers’ legacy lives on through their grandchildren, who operate Kendallville’s Baker’s Flowers & Gifts. Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen named May 22, 2021, the date of the first Indiana Peony Festival, as “Baker Family Day,” and the festival is proud to honor Laurence’s and Frances’ legacy with all that we do.
After nearly 68 years, we’re still celebrating the power of peonies and the Baker family in Indiana. At IPF, it’s our goal to help spread the beauty and knowledge of the peony, and we hope you walk away knowing a little piece of peony history.
Feeling inspired to plant peonies of your own? Shop our peony root shop to help continue the peony legacy.
