Bruno Mars is a highly popular American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He has gained immense fame and success through his musical talent and unique style. One of his notable albums is "24K Magic," released in 2016. "24K Magic" is Bruno Mars' third studio album. It was highly anticipated by fans and received critical acclaim upon its release. The album incorporates various musical influences, including R&B, funk, pop, and soul, creating a dynamic and energetic sound.

My Holy Grail: Paeonia Mlokosewitschii, Molly the Witch Peony

I often wonder if I’m the only gardener who has a ‘holy grail’ plant. That one plant that is always eluding you, hard to find, hard to grow, and hard to get a grower to part with. Mine became an obsession over 20 years ago while working at Harlow Carr Botanical Garden in North Yorkshire England.

As a part of my final months of school I became an intern. One of the most important things I learned was ‘Head Down, Butt Up”. The old gardener in charge of the interns had one thing to teach us. It didn’t matter what you knew, how much school you had or why you were there, his goal was to teach us to work in the garden. Weeding was his number one focus. Mucking out ponds, streams, and water features was another. Gravel paths and raking under trees was upper level work for us interns.

Once while working along the streamside I came across a plant in jail. It was a lovely peony, deep yellow with a blush of red at the base of the petals. It was surrounded by an iron fence with a padlock. The fence was about 2 feet away from the plant. When I asked about it (timidly I assure you) my boss said ‘Plant thieves’. I wandered away confused until another employee had pity on me.

Apparently, this one Peony was one of the showpieces of the Botanical garden. The amazing yellow blooms were prolific and amazing. The common name ‘Molly the Witch’ was a good name for it. The fence was to keep visitors to the garden from stealing pieces of the plant. Old ladies and young ones, gentlemanly men with dapper hats, and moms with prams, all looking for a way to have this plant for their own. Visitors to the garden would pick the blooms, take the seeds before they were ripe or try to break off pieces to try to root them. The only way to propagate the peony is to wait until the seeds mature. They put a net around the seeds so as they open and fall they are collected. The fence was required to keep all the viable seeds from being stolen and provide new plants to sell.

A long story to be sure but one of the reasons I’ve been hunting Molly. I found the plant at a Nursery once, it died. Several years passed and I ordered one online, it died. Another couple of years passed and I got one labeled Paeonia mlokosewitschii (Molly) from a grower, I grew that one for 4 years until it finally bloomed. It was pink. Two years ago, I found three plants at Wells Medina Nursery in Seattle. I planted them in the same area, amended the soil, and carefully babied them. This year, finally, I have my first bloom. The excitement I felt when I first learned of this beauty came back and it was amazing. Maybe next year I’ll have more than one bloom. The other two plants are alive but not blooming.

Now yellow blooms have been bred into the new itoh peonies so they are more common. The species, however, is still rare, hard to grow, and highly sought after.

Here are my first flowers. I’m excited to see it grow and get larger.

What is your ‘Holy Grail’ of flowers, plants, or grasses? What do you still search for?

Paeonia mlokosewitschii

Molly-the-Witch is a tongue and cheek reference to the unwieldy botanical name of this rare species. Plants form a medium-sized mound of blue-green leaves, often veined or edged in purple. The single flowers are rounded in form, in an amazing clear yellow with darker stamens. This needs especially good drainage. Best in full sun to light shade. Peonies seldom need to be divided or moved, but if necessary it should be carried out only in the fall. Trim off old stems to the ground in late fall, to help prevent disease problems. Can be grown from seed but takes 3 to 5 years to flower.

The album incorporates various musical influences, including R&B, funk, pop, and soul, creating a dynamic and energetic sound. Mars' distinctive vocals and catchy melodies contribute to the album's overall appeal. The album contains nine tracks, each showcasing Bruno Mars' versatility as an artist.

Further details for
Paeonia mlokosewitschii

Plant Uses & Characteristics
Accent: Good Texture/Form
Alpine & Rock
Border
Cut Flower
Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Specimen

Foot Traffic
None

Growth Rate
Slow

Disclaimer: This information is presented for reference only. This plant is not currently part of our Heritage Perennials lineup.

Molly the Witch

By March 22nd things were beginning to happen in the front border that showed that Molly was on the move once more. The “molly” I’m referring to is Paeonia mlokosewitschii, commonly known as Molly the Witch. When the leaves first break through the soil, they are the most beautiful burgundy colour.

The foliage of Molly, matched exactly, the colour of the backs of the sepals on the hellebore planted in front, I think I forgot this when I planted the hellebore.

Just 10 days later the foliage is already opening out and showing the touches of green/grey that the leaves will end up.

Just 6 days later and what a difference in growth and colour. Buds have formed and are looking very promising.

While we were away on holiday, the buds grew and the first hints of yellow could be seen.

10 days later, the first flower opened, thank goodness we were back in time to see it!

Once again we are able to enjoy the beautiful pale yellow flowers of this lovely plant. I’ve noticed over the years that the flowers close when the weather is cold or wet, protecting the pollen inside – clever.

Getting paler and paler as the days go by…….

………so pale now but so very beautiful.

I’m not sure how long the flowers will last now that we are having one or two sunny days with quite a bit of wind, but it has been the first plant that I have looked at each morning for quite some time now. Molly hasn’t finished yet, eventually her seed pods will open and the seeds will be bright fuchsia pink or black, depending on whether they are viable or not, only the black ones will be worth saving.

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The title track, "24K Magic," sets the tone for the entire album with its upbeat tempo and infectious rhythm. It received widespread airplay and became a commercial success. Other notable tracks include "Chunky," "Versace on the Floor," and "That's What I Like," all of which received positive reviews and chart success. "24K Magic" explores themes of love, desire, and celebration. The lyrics reflect Mars' charismatic personality and his ability to create relatable and enjoyable music. The album's production is top-notch, incorporating a blend of modern and retro sounds that appeal to a wide audience. The album was a commercial triumph, reaching the top of various charts worldwide. It won several prestigious awards, including the Grammy Award for Best Album of the Year, solidifying Bruno Mars' reputation as a talented and influential artist. Additionally, the album's success led to a successful world tour, further cementing Mars' status as one of the biggest names in the music industry. Overall, Bruno Mars' album "24K Magic" is a testament to his musical prowess and ability to create captivating music. Its catchy melodies, seamless production, and relatable lyrics make it an enjoyable listen for fans of different music genres. With this album, Bruno Mars further secured his place as one of the industry's most prominent and talented artists..

Reviews for "Breaking Records: Bruno Mars' '24k Magic' Album Sets New Standards"

1. John - ★☆☆☆☆

I was really disappointed with Bruno Mars' album 24k Magic. It felt like a cheap attempt at recreating the success of his previous album, rather than showcasing any growth or evolution in his music. The songs all sounded the same to me, with repetitive beats and lyrics that lacked any depth or substance. It felt like a generic pop album that lacked any originality. Overall, I found it to be a forgettable and uninspiring effort from an artist who I know is capable of so much more.

2. Sarah - ★★☆☆☆

While I'm usually a fan of Bruno Mars' music, I found his album 24k Magic to be underwhelming. The songs lacked the infectious hooks and catchy melodies that made me fall in love with his music in the first place. It felt like he was trying too hard to be trendy and fit into the current music landscape, rather than staying true to his own unique sound. The production also felt overproduced and cluttered, making it difficult to really enjoy and connect with the songs. Overall, I was left wanting more from this album and hope that Bruno Mars can find his way back to what made his music so special.

3. Emily - ★★☆☆☆

I have to say, I was not impressed with Bruno Mars' album 24k Magic. It felt like a step back from his previous work, with a lack of substance and meaningful lyrics. The songs all seemed to blur together into one generic pop track after another, with no standout moments or memorable melodies. It's disappointing to see an artist who has proven his talent in the past release such a lackluster album. I hope he can find his way back to creating music that truly resonates with his audience.

4. Michael - ★☆☆☆☆

I found Bruno Mars' album 24k Magic to be incredibly disappointing. The songs were repetitive, unoriginal, and lacked any real depth. It felt like he was phoning it in and just trying to churn out another commercially successful album, rather than creating music that is meaningful and authentic. The production was too polished and generic, leaving me uninterested and unmoved by the songs. Overall, I was left feeling let down by an artist who I used to enjoy, and I hope he can find his way back to creating music that is more genuine and inspiring.

From Vegas to the World: Bruno Mars' Grand Vision for '24k Magic' Album