Jim Waddick reported on a number of early peonies in flower in Kansas
City. Here in Portland, Oregon, not a single bud has opened yet. Our
winter temperatures are warmer than in Kansas City, but we've had a
very cold spring, which must retard the flowering. It did get up to
71 F a few days ago but now is cold and damp again. At least it keeps
the daffodils and trilliums looking good for a long time.
The species peonies I moved from my former garden last fall mostly
have done well, including the rather touchy P. tenuifolia. I left the
hybrids in the old garden but may dig some next fall if I haven't
sold the house by then. I hope to expand a border that is now just a
strip of new shrubs by improving the soil enough to plant some hybrid
peonies, which I'll buy from local growers. I never had to worry
about soil amendment at the former garden because the soil there is
free-draining, but now I have to learn about clay.
Jane McGary
Portland, Oregon, USA
At 01:27 PM 5/6/2011, you wrote:
>Dear PBSers,
> So far this has been a terrific season for peonies hre in
>Kansas City MO. Tomorrow our local peony club is having a
>display/show open to the public.
>
> My season started with early species and hybrids: P.
>tenuifolia 'Rosea', P. mlokosewitschii, 'Early Scout' and 'Smouthii".
>Now about 2 weeks later the tree peonies are going great with some
>named P. rockii (with those gorgeous deep center flares), Japanese
>hybrids are just past peak and the first of the Lutea hybrids
>('Nike') have just opened.