Wisconsin Life

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In rural Shawano County, family farms still dot the landscape.

Lee Mielke

You always got the weeds starting off.

Angela

But on this farmstead, a unique crop has taken root. You hear a lot of stories that people retiring from dairy farming, they didn't have nothing to do. In retirement. Lee Mielke has plenty to do. Working the soil at one of Wisconsin's most picturesque flower fields.

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Angela

After farming, he wanted to pursue, you know, his dream of just being able to have peonies. Lee had started planting the peonies as a hobby. Sue Mielke is Lee's sister and business partner.

Sue

He had enough peonies that people would come out here just to visit.

Lee Mielke

The first years, the local yokels, they'd come up and drive up on the yard, and they'd turn around.

Sue Mielke

About the time he had the second or third garden, I said, "Lee, you really need to do something "about these peonies. "We either need to start selling them as cut flowers or wholesaling them or something."

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Angela

That hobby did turn into something. We have about 150 varieties of different peonies here, and we have about 2,000 plants. On a scale of a grower is probably small, but we're happy with that. You take a tour around the garden.

Visitor

Okay, thank you. Thank you, thank you so much for stopping. They all are just in awe of what they see. So, it's a lot of fun.

Angela

It all started with just one peony and a chance encounter. I was visiting my sister and she had a Red Charm peony. They were big flowers and I said, "Oh, my peonies."

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Angela

That simple phrase, "Oh, my peonies" launched a Christmas tradition.

Sue

Every year we would ask him, "What do you want for Christmas?" And he would tell us "A peony gift certificate."

Lee

That was the easiest part for me.

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Angela

Every year since then, Christmas arrives in June. It shows up in full bloom with a pop of color.

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Angela

This is Wisconsin Cream. It's often difficult to get. This is Morning Lilac. It's always been my favorite. It's more of a purple color. Wisconsin's a great state for growing peonies. Through the years, Lee learned something from dairy farming that translates to his peony patch.

Lee

So, you find out mother nature's the boss. She'll give you rain at the right time. Don't worry about it. It'll come through. It's the gamble you gotta take.

Angela

And it's paying off. The price tag can be eye-popping for some of these peonies.

Sue

This is Bartzella. When it was first introduced into the market, I believe ran for about a thousand dollars.

Lee

Mystic Pink, it's a beautiful peony, $350. But there's only eight of them in the world. I've never seen a pink color in a peony like that. It just stands out. I suppose it ain't any different than cows. Some cows will give you more money. Some peonies'll give you more.

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Angela

At the end of the day, it's a sentimental journey for these siblings. I appreciate the beauty of this place a little bit more. I think when you're growing up, and this was our home farm, you don't take a real strong appreciation in that.

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Angela

Success is just waking up every morning. You got the world by the tail. You look at the peonies or find out something to do. That's the name of the game of success.