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Honeydew Among the Peonies

Aug 3 2026 | By: Terri Jacobson Photography

Honeydew, a black-and-white rescue dog, sits among vivid pink and crimson blooms at Adelman Peony Gardens.

Honeydew Among the Peonies

At Adelman Peony Gardens, spring does not arrive quietly.

It gathers in enormous blooms—ruffled, extravagant, and saturated with color. Rows of pink, coral, cream, and crimson stretch across the farm, each flower seemingly determined to outdo the one beside it.

Honeydew fit right in.

Standing among peonies nearly as bold as she is, she surveyed the garden with one ear raised and opinions at the ready. Because Honeydew may have joined us for a morning among the flowers, but there was never any question who was in charge.

Brilliant pink peonies bloom in the fields at Adelman Peony Gardens near Salem, Oregon.

Valley Field Notes

Location
Adelman Peony Gardens, north of Salem

Color of the Season
Coral, blush, crimson, and cream

Bloom
Peonies

Peak Moment
Mid-May through early June, when the display gardens and fields are filled with blooms

Valley Fact
The Willamette Valley’s mild springs and fertile soil provide an ideal growing climate for peonies. Adelman Peony Gardens has been rooted in this farmland for generations, growing and shipping peonies from its family farm near Salem.

Listen For
Bees moving from bloom to bloom, footsteps between the rows, and the occasional strongly worded opinion from Honeydew

Look For
Petals larger than your hand, rows of impossible color, and one raised ear keeping track of everything in the garden

Honeydew, a black-and-white rescue dog, walks along a grassy path beside rows of crimson peonies at Adelman Peony Gardens.

Already Becoming a Family

Honeydew’s family first saw her on Petfinder and fell completely in love.

The timing was not quite perfect. They were still in the process of buying a house and preparing for the move, but 4 All Muttkind helped make room for the relationship to begin. Honeydew joined them for weekend visits while they settled into their new home.

By the time everything was ready, she was no longer a dog they were getting to know.

She was family.

A few months later, Honeydew is firmly in charge—generous with her opinions and a constant source of love, laughter, and joy.

Honeydew, a black-and-white rescue dog, stands surrounded by vivid pink peonies at Adelman Peony Gardens.

Right Where She Belongs

Among the extravagant blooms of Adelman Peony Gardens, Honeydew moved through the rows as though the entire place had been arranged for her arrival.

The peonies brought the color. Honeydew brought the personality.

Confident, expressive, and never short on opinions, she has settled fully into the life that was waiting for her—one weekend visit at a time, until there was nowhere else she belonged.

Honeydew, a black-and-white rescue dog, rests in the grass beside a row of crimson peonies at Adelman Peony Gardens.

Every Story Begins Somewhere

Every dog featured in the Colors of the Valley 2027 Calendar has a story.

Many of those stories found a new beginning through 4 All Muttkind Rescue. Sometimes that beginning happens all at once. Sometimes it unfolds slowly—through weekend visits, patient planning, and a rescue willing to help a family find its way home.

Today, those second chances are exploring orchards, wandering through fields of flowers, and experiencing the beauty of the Willamette Valley, one season at a time.

That’s the story we’re celebrating.

Next in the Valley → Meet the next 4 All Muttkind alumni as Colors of the Valley continues through another season, another place, and another unforgettable dog.

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