UM Cross Country Teams Clear Historic Peony Garden

The annual maintenance ensures the health of 800 peony plants before the winter dormancy period.

Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Botany

Vector editorial illustration showing steel pruning shears resting on cut-back peony stalks, representing seasonal garden maintenance for historic plants. — University of Michigan cross country athletes performed annual maintenance at the W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden, preparing the historic plant collection for winter. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

University of Michigan cross country athletes recently cleared foliage from the W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden to prepare the site for winter. This annual maintenance process ensures the health of the historic collection before the plants enter dormancy.

Why it matters

Removing foliage before winter is a standard horticultural practice to reduce the spread of plant diseases. This effort maintains the vitality of the garden, which contains nearly 800 historic peony plants.

The W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden holds nearly 800 historic peony plants that produce up to 10,000 flowers at peak bloom. The recent manual cleanup effort took roughly one hour to complete.

The players

University of Michigan cross country teams

The collegiate athletic squads responsible for the manual labor of cutting and clearing the garden foliage.

W.E. Upjohn Peony Garden

A botanical site within the Nichols Arboretum featuring a collection of nearly 800 historic peony plants.

Mike McGuire

A long-time observer who has been running through the Nichols Arboretum since the 1970s.

The details

The cleanup process involves cutting back peony foliage to the base of the plant once temperatures drop. By removing the dead stalks and leaves, the maintenance team eliminates potential overwintering sites for pathogens and insect pests. This practice protects the root stock of the historic plants as they enter a state of dormancy, ensuring they are positioned to regenerate in the spring.

1970s: Mike McGuire began running through the Nichols Arboretum.
October 18, 2026: The University of Michigan cross country teams conducted the garden cleanup.
May and June: Peonies reach peak bloom and attract visitors.

The Tech Race

This maintenance follows the seasonal cycles required to preserve historical plant cultivars within the Nichols Arboretum. It marks a standard operational milestone in the ongoing efforts to keep the garden viable for future peak bloom seasons.

The garden is now prepared for winter dormancy, with the plants expected to bloom again in May and June. Visitors can continue to access the Nichols Arboretum grounds, though the peony display will remain inactive until the spring cycle.

The takeaway

Winterizing garden foliage is a critical step in preventing the spread of disease among historic plant collections. Residents and visitors can monitor the garden's status as the plants begin their spring regrowth in the coming months.