Peony 'Sonoma Halo'
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Peony 'Douglas Brand'
Sunday, February 14, 2016
2016 Favorite Peonies at APS Convention Flower Show
Since it is wintertime and there aren't any peony blooms in sight anywhere, I figured it would be a good time to publish my favorite peony blooms from the 2015 American Peony Society Convention. Never before seen photos of gorgeous peonies from the 2015 APS Convention, who wouldn't want to see that in the dead of winter? :-) Just pull out that Peony Wish List for Next Year you been dreaming up, because you're going to need to add a few more peonies to it... Plus, if you haven't Registered for the 2016 American Peony Society Convention yet, you just got another reason - make that eleven more reasons! :-) So check out this eye candy - hopefully it will keep you warm. :-) Happy Valentine's Day!
Peony 'Sonoma Halo'
Peony 'Douglas Brand'
Peony 'Sonoma Halo'
Peony 'Douglas Brand'
Thursday, February 11, 2016
2016 APS Convention Travel Booked
Ebates Cash Back on Travel
I had already Registered for the 2016 American Peony Society Convention back in January. Now I have booked my travel too! Yay! If you're planning to go to the APS Convention, and you haven't booked your travel yet, I found a great deal on Expedia. I usually use Orbitz, but my travel was $100 cheaper on Expedia. Plus, you can get 10% cash back on flight/hotel combos if you go through Ebates first. Ebates is a rebate site that pays you actual cash for buying things online. I have been a member of Ebates for almost 10 years now (since 2007), and I have already saved over $1000! Also if you haven't made your reservation for the 2016 American Peony Society Convention, now's the time to do it before the tour buses sell out! I hope to see you all in Green Bay!
American Peony Society Convention Green Bay Trip Booked
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
2016 Truck Load of New Mulch for Peonies
I was happily surprised to get a call last week while I was at work asking if I still needed a truck load of mulch. I had been worrying about getting some ever since the last guy I knew who would bring me free mulch had his phone number disconnected. I had called around to several tree service companies inquiring about free wood chips a couple weeks ago, but I hadn't heard anything yet. So I was very grateful when I got this call. The tree service man kept asking me was I sure I needed a whole truck load? Each time I replied Yes! I told him I was away, but he was more than welcome to leave it at the end of my driveway. So on Friday when I got home from work, I found this beautiful, very large pile of mulch in my driveway. Now I can keep the weeds at bay around my peonies while gradually adding valuable organic matter to the soil over time. :-)
Sunday, February 7, 2016
2016 Intersectional Peonies Suffered Frozen Bud Blast
Nope. Not even all of the intersectional peonies were able to withstand that late cold winter blast last spring. You would think with their tough guy image and strong tree peony like woody stems, they would just shrug off a cold blast. Unfortunately some varieties had blasted buds and some had both blasted buds and a reduction in blooms from the previous year. Not all of my intersectional peonies are rated here. Some of them were too small and/or immature to evaluate or there was not enough data to make a proper evaluation. Check out the table below to see who suffered in the cold...
2015 Intersectional Peony Garden
There were however several varieties which did shrug off that winter cold, seemingly unaffected by the late frost, that did not suffer any reduction in bloom or bud blast. These intersectional peonies all increased (or maintained) their bloom counts. Only one of these varieties suffered some bud blast. I am amazed to see three of Don Smith's Japanese named Intersectional Peonies sold by Monrovia as the top three in this list! I'm guessing the other Japanese named peony in that collection is not on this list only because it was too immature in my garden to evaluate. I am also not surprised to see Peony 'Cora Louise' on this list which was nominated for the APS Gold Medal last year, and it almost won, Peony 'Bartzella' which already won the APS Gold Medal in 2006, and Peony 'Keiko' a 2015 Southern Peony Best Performer.
Intersectional Peony 'Keiko' 愛幕 (Adored)
| Peony 'Little Darlin' | ||||
| Peony 'Scarlet Heaven' | ||||
| Peony 'Morning Lilac' | ||||
| Peony 'Pastel Splendor' | ||||
| Peony 'Sonoma Amethyst' | ||||
| Peony 'Julia Rose' | ||||
| Peony 'Garden Treasure' | ||||
2015 Intersectional Peony Garden
There were however several varieties which did shrug off that winter cold, seemingly unaffected by the late frost, that did not suffer any reduction in bloom or bud blast. These intersectional peonies all increased (or maintained) their bloom counts. Only one of these varieties suffered some bud blast. I am amazed to see three of Don Smith's Japanese named Intersectional Peonies sold by Monrovia as the top three in this list! I'm guessing the other Japanese named peony in that collection is not on this list only because it was too immature in my garden to evaluate. I am also not surprised to see Peony 'Cora Louise' on this list which was nominated for the APS Gold Medal last year, and it almost won, Peony 'Bartzella' which already won the APS Gold Medal in 2006, and Peony 'Keiko' a 2015 Southern Peony Best Performer.
| Peony 'Yumi' 由美 (Possess Beauty) | ||||
| Peony 'Keiko' 愛幕 (Adored) | ||||
| Peony 'Takara' 慈悲 (Treasure) | ||||
| Peony 'Cora Louise' | ||||
| Peony 'Copper Kettle' | ||||
| Peony 'Yellow Crown' | ||||
| Peony 'Bartzella' | ||||
| Peony 'White Emperor' | ||||
Intersectional Peony 'Keiko' 愛幕 (Adored)
Friday, February 5, 2016
2016 Mid Season Peonies Suffered Frozen Bud Blast
After finishing my 2016 Peony Data Entry in Winter Time, I remembered not just how many 2015 Early Peonies Suffered Frozen Bud Blast, but also how many mid season peonies suffered bud blast last year as well. It was painfully obvious during my data entry when Peony 'Red Charm' did not even have a bloom date since all of its buds were blasted (and Peony 'Red Charm's bloom date is usually used as the basis for the bloom date offset). I have already compiled the data on my early blooming Saunders peonies that suffered bud blast, 2015 Saunders Peony Varieties Frozen Bud Blast. So here are the midseason peonies in my garden that suffered bud blast from the late winter cold we received last year. Since midseason peonies develop a little later than early season peonies, most of their buds were very small when they were blasted by the cold. So there was not a large bud that had turned brown as evidence of the bud blast. Instead these varieties usually bloom reliably, and they either didn't bloom at all or their blooms were severely reduced. Also I'm listing a few more early varieties that are not Saunders varieties (so they weren't on my previous list).
| Peony 'Early Scout' (Early) | ||||
| Peony 'Roy Pehrson's Best Yellow' (Early) | ||||
| Peony 'Coral Fay' (Early) | ||||
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| Peony 'Red Charm' | ||||
| Peony 'First Lady' | ||||
| Peony 'Nymphe' | ||||
| Peony 'Pink Princess' | ||||
| Peony 'Pillow Talk' | ||||
| Peony 'Kansas' | ||||
| Peony 'Myra MacRae' | ||||
| Peony 'Doris Cooper' | ||||
| Peony 'Solange' | ||||
| Peony 'Cherry Charm' | ||||
| Peony 'My Love' | ||||
| Peony 'Guidon' | ||||
| Peony 'Lemon Chiffon' | ||||
| Peony 'Many Happy Returns' | ||||
| Peony 'Do Tell' | ||||
| Peony 'Kelway's Glorious' | ||||
| Peony 'America' | ||||
| Peony 'Bowl of Cream' | ||||
| Peony 'White Frost' | ||||
| Peony 'Rose Heart' | ||||
Thursday, February 4, 2016
2016 Peony Data Entry in Winter Time
I finally finished inputting the data I collected during the 2015 peony season last night. That ruler is to help me stay on the correct line. I think next year I need to go to two pages. The print is just getting way too small to keep everything on one page. Also my baby bear, Isabella, was keeping me company during this tedious work. Her smile made it a bit more manageable. I am looking forward to analyzing the data to see what it will reveal. I now have 10 years of bloom data. Now that I have 10 years' worth of data, it's time to put that 2015 Peony Bloom Data in Peony Database to good use! Look for some bloom data coming out sometime this year on my Bloom Dates page. :-)
Monday, February 1, 2016
2016 Peony Photos on Main Page
Southern Peony now has 50 peony pictures in our Photos section! This month, for February, we are featuring the soft pink Peony 'Roselette' on our main page and have also added it to our peony Photos page. Each month we add a new peony photo to our main page and to our Photo archive. That way it steadily grows and gives you all something new to look at (and lust after). ;-) This archive can also be used as a reference for identifying your own peonies or finding new ones you'd like to grow. I started this project in 2012, adding watermarks and larger photos in 2013, wrote about it in 2014 Southern Peony Photos, and it has been growing steadily since. If there is particular peony in my Inventory list that you'd like me to add a photo of, please leave a comment and let me know or send me an email, and I will try to add it if I already have a good photo of it. If I don't already have a good photo of it, I will try to get one this spring! Happy (Peony) Gardening!
Peony 'Roselette'
Peony 'Roselette'
Saturday, January 30, 2016
2016 Species in APS Handbook of the Peony 1st Edition
It was nice to take a little time for myself this past weekend and catch up on a little reading. I purchased the Manual of the American Peony Society First Edition (aka APS Handbook of the Peony 1st Edition) almost three years ago now (before my son Maddox!). Yikes! Yes, it got put to the side even though I was almost finished. However, a hot bath with some peony soaking salts from K. Hall Design Peony Products and a little free time netted me a few more pages. I was able to finish the section on species peonies. Apparently there was much confusion and many more categories of species peonies back when this book was written in 1928. The author links many of the species classes together noting there are little difference between x and y categories. It seems this topic has been subject to many revisions over the years with each plant discoverer and Paeonia genus researcher using their own methods of peony species classifications. It will be nice when one day all of them have been DNA mapped and we are able to classify them conclusively!
Manual of the American Peony Society
Plate XXXIX. Officinalis rubra plena
Manual of the American Peony Society
Plate XXXIX. Officinalis rubra plena
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
2016 New Intersectional Peony 'Sugar Plum Fairy'
When I got an email from Hollingsworth Peonies this past weekend about their new peony cultivars, I was definitely curious. What a nice surprise to find out about a newly registered and currently available intersectional cultivar. The flower's name is Peony 'Sugar Plum Fairy'. The short bush and pale pink flower of this peony seem aptly named after a petite, cotton candy colored ballerina, The Sugar Plum Fairy from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker. Tchaikovsky being one of my favorite composers and me being a little ballerina for almost 10 years is reason enough to buy it now, and so I did. I'm guessing this little dancer is even pretty than her picture. I've also added this newly offered Peony 'Sugar Plum Fairy' to my 2016 Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List!
Hollingsworth Peonies'
Intersectional Peony 'Sugar Plum Fairy'
Hollingsworth Peonies'
Intersectional Peony 'Sugar Plum Fairy'
Sunday, January 24, 2016
2016 Questions - Peony 'Bartzella' Seeds on Ebay
I received this question from Ted in zone 8:
"You may have seen the "Bartzella" seeds for sale on ebay? I wonder how they get Bartzella to produce seeds?"
Yellow "Intersectional" Paeonia Peony Seeds on Ebay
Actually I haven't seen those. I just looked them up. I believe those seeds are a hoax. My Peony 'Bartzella' has never set any seed, and I'm guessing yours hasn't either. The seller is likely playing into the fact that Itoh peonies are generally expensive (although their prices have come down quite a bit already). So they are trying to sell these "seeds" for less than the cost of an intersectional root, but highway robbery, nonetheless. I definitely would not purchase those seeds, as they are likely some seeds from an undesirable, common peony and will most likely not be yellow at all. Buyer Beware for sure!
"You may have seen the "Bartzella" seeds for sale on ebay? I wonder how they get Bartzella to produce seeds?"
Yellow "Intersectional" Paeonia Peony Seeds on Ebay
Actually I haven't seen those. I just looked them up. I believe those seeds are a hoax. My Peony 'Bartzella' has never set any seed, and I'm guessing yours hasn't either. The seller is likely playing into the fact that Itoh peonies are generally expensive (although their prices have come down quite a bit already). So they are trying to sell these "seeds" for less than the cost of an intersectional root, but highway robbery, nonetheless. I definitely would not purchase those seeds, as they are likely some seeds from an undesirable, common peony and will most likely not be yellow at all. Buyer Beware for sure!
Saturday, January 23, 2016
2016 Ice Storm Peonies Iced!
I guess I was wrong about the 2016 First Snow of the Year (and Maybe Only???). Winter Storm Jonas hit us with quite a bit. It looks like snow in the pictures, but there's not really much snow. It's more like 1-2 inches of ice with a little snow mixed in. I guess that's why there's a big tree snapped in half in my back yard and our power was out for almost a day! I'm so thankful it's back on, and we can get warm again.
Intersectional Peony 'Yellow Crown' on Ice
The peonies look like they're taking whatever Jonas is dishing out. You can't really read their plant name tags anymore, but I think the ice will melt, and they will be okay. Most of my peonies are still tucked safely underground. However, there are a few intersectional and tree peonies with above ground stems. I think they're going to make it, though. With the extra layer of ice, the peonies take on a shiny sheen, making them almost jewel like.
Tree Peony on Ice
Remember that New Peony Breaking Dormancy Too Early? With our sometimes warm weather last week, it decided to peek out through the extra layer of mulch I put on top of it. Now, however, the ice has seemed to put a stop to its growth. The foliage still has not unfurled yet. If the foliage opens or the stem grows taller, it probably won't make it. Since it is still short, there's a chance this one could survive. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. We'll see...
Intersectional Peony 'Prairie Charm' on Ice
Intersectional Peony 'Yellow Crown' on Ice
The peonies look like they're taking whatever Jonas is dishing out. You can't really read their plant name tags anymore, but I think the ice will melt, and they will be okay. Most of my peonies are still tucked safely underground. However, there are a few intersectional and tree peonies with above ground stems. I think they're going to make it, though. With the extra layer of ice, the peonies take on a shiny sheen, making them almost jewel like.
Tree Peony on Ice
Remember that New Peony Breaking Dormancy Too Early? With our sometimes warm weather last week, it decided to peek out through the extra layer of mulch I put on top of it. Now, however, the ice has seemed to put a stop to its growth. The foliage still has not unfurled yet. If the foliage opens or the stem grows taller, it probably won't make it. Since it is still short, there's a chance this one could survive. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. We'll see...
Intersectional Peony 'Prairie Charm' on Ice
Friday, January 22, 2016
2016 K. Hall Design Peony Products
I first discovered these K. Hall Designs products almost two years ago now, on our first wedding anniversary. I was pregnant at the time and couldn't travel far. So we decided to check in to a local spa. When we went to relax in the pools at the spa, I couldn't help but notice these peony products. The candles, lotion, and bath salts really caught my eye with "PEONY" printed boldly on a minimalistic pale pink label. I loved the scent (of course!), especially since it was not overpowering or fake smelling. The fact that the lotions and bath salts had not been dyed pink with artificial colors was a big plus in my book! I really wanted the lotion (of which they had a sample you could test). However, it was sold out. So I purchased the bath salts instead, which I have thoroughly enjoyed. When you add these peony salts to your bath, the entire bathroom smells like a field of peonies! I have since gotten the lotion as well, and it is just right. It moisturizes your hands and smells sweet without being sticky, greasy, or too strong smelling. So if you are looking for some mostly natural (their web site says at least 95% natural) peony toiletries, definitely check these out...
K. Hall Designs Peony Lotion and Bath Salts
K. Hall Designs Peony Lotion and Bath Salts
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
2016 Peony on My Wish List 'Silvia Saunders'
Peony 'Silvia Saunders'
4 Years Propagation Time Until Available in 2020
Photo Courtesy of Hidden Springs Flower Farm
When doing the research for my 2016 Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List, I came across this peony I just had to have, Peony 'Silvia Saunders'. If you know a little about me, then you'll know I am a huge A.P. Saunders fan. I've been collecting Saunders peonies for quite some time and created a separate garden space, which I call my Saunders Peony Garden in 2007. If you know a little about A. P. Saunders, you'll know that Silvia was his daughter and carried on her Father's work. So when I saw this beauty, I knew I just had to have it. Unfortunately the first time I saw it, it was already sold out. I contacted the grower, Harvey Buchite at Hidden Springs Flower Farm and asked if it would be available again next year. Unfortunately it won't be available again until 2020! It is still going on my Peony List anyway... What a gorgeous flower!
Silvia Saunders, Daughter of A. P. Saunders
Also when looking up this flower, I came across this video, Paeonia 'Silvia Saunders' that David Michener at Nichols Arboretum created, which really shows just how beautiful this plant is in person! David has been doing a lot of great work with historic peony varieties, going to great lengths to catalog and preserve them in the Matthaei Botanical Gardens of Nichols Arboretum at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. From reviewing the Nichols Arboretum Peony Database, they first acquired Peony 'Silvia Saunders' in 1921! So that points to this flower having great longevity. Check out David's video. Their mature specimen of Peony 'Silvia Saunders' is just gorgeous!
David Michener with Peony 'Silvia Saunders'
Video, Paeonia 'Silvia Saunders' from MatthaeiBotanicalGardens
Monday, January 18, 2016
2016 First Snow of the Year (and Maybe Only???)
Snowing Hard During the First Snow of the Year
I can't believe it! It snowed yesterday! The temperatures the day before were almost 60°, and then the next day it was snowing like a blizzard. It snowed fast and hard for about an hour, and it did start to accumulate. However, it was gone as fast as it came. This snow event was a metaphor for our entire winter so far. Hot one day, cold the next. No wonder everything is confused, like this New Peony Breaking Dormancy Too Early. Hopefully most of my peonies will stay dormant until the proper time (at least a couple months from now), will receive enough chilling hours for bud set (since this has been kind of a warm winter so far), and spring will bring lots of brilliantly colored peony blooms!
First Snow of the Year
Friday, January 15, 2016
2016 Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List
Wow! January again! The peony catalogs are coming out faster than I can add them! Well, they're not all out yet. So I'll update this information as more peony catalogs become available.
If you'd like to compare this year's prices to last year's prices, here's a link to my 2015 Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List Enjoy! (Also if you'd like your company to be listed here, please join the American Peony Society as a Commercial Member, since this is where I obtain my peony grower information.)
 | Adelman - mostly same or lower |
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Birchwood - same |
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Blossom Hill - mostly same or higher |
|
| Brooks - mostly lower, some same, some higher |
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Cricket Hill - mostly higher |
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Fina - same or lower |
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Hidden Springs - mostly same or lower |
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Hollingsworth - some lower, some higher |
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Peony's Envy - same |
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| Solaris Farms - mostly lower |
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Song Sparrow - same or higher |
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Swenson - mostly higher or same |
| Intersectional Peony | Price | Vendor |
| Al's Choice | $85.00 | Brooks |
| Ballarena de Saval | $70.00 | Adelman |
| Bartzella | $45.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Bartzella | $60.00 | Swenson |
| Bartzella | $62.00 | Fina |
| Bartzella | $60.00 | Adelman |
| Bartzella | $65.00 | Brooks |
| Bartzella | $70.00 | Hollingsworth |
| Bartzella | $79.00 | Hidden Springs |
| Bartzella | $85.00 | Birchwood |
| Bartzella | $85.00 | Song Sparrow |
| Bartzella | $89.00 | Cricket Hill |
| Bartzella | C$135.00 | Blossom Hill |
| Berry Garcia | $95.00 | Brooks |
| Border Charm | $40.00 | Adelman |
| Border Charm | $40.00 | Brooks |
| Border Charm | $40.00 | Hidden Springs |
| Border Charm | $40.00 | Swenson |
| Border Charm | $45.00 | Birchwood |
| Border Charm | $65.00 | Song Sparrow |
| Border Charm | C$90.00 | Blossom Hill |
| Callie's Memory | $45.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Callie's Memory | $60.00 | Swenson |
| Callie's Memory | $70.00 | Brooks |
| Canary Brilliants | $55.00 | Adelman |
| Canary Brilliants | $60.00 | Swenson |
| Chief Black Hawk | $185.00 | Brooks |
| Cora Louise | $60.00 | Adelman |
| Cora Louise | $60.00 | Birchwood |
| Cora Louise | $70.00 | Brooks |
| Cora Louise | $79.00 | Peony's Envy |
| Cora Louise | $85.00 | Song Sparrow |
| Cora Louise | $89.00 | Cricket Hill |
| Court Jester | $50.00 | Swenson |
| First Arrival | $40.00 | Solaris Farms |
| First Arrival | $50.00 | Swenson |
| First Arrival | $60.00 | Adelman |
| First Arrival | $60.00 | Hollingsworth |
| First Arrival | $89.00 | Cricket Hill |
| Garden Treasure | $40.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Garden Treasure | $60.00 | Adelman |
| Garden Treasure | $60.00 | Fina |
| Garden Treasure | $60.00 | Swenson |
| Garden Treasure | $64.00 | Hollingsworth |
| Garden Treasure | $65.00 | Brooks |
| Garden Treasure | $68.00 | Birchwood |
| Garden Treasure | $75.00 | Hidden Springs |
| Garden Treasure | $85.00 | Song Sparrow |
| Garden Treasure | $89.00 | Cricket Hill |
| Garden Treasure | $89.00 | Peony's Envy |
| Going Bananas | $40.00 | Adelman |
| Going Bananas | $50.00 | Swenson |
| Going Bananas | C$90.00 | Blossom Hill |
| Going Bananas | $100.00 | Song Sparrow |
| Gordon E. Simonson | $300.00 | Swenson |
| Hidden Treasure | $40.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Hillary | $45.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Hillary | $50.00 | Adelman |
| Hillary | $50.00 | Brooks |
| Hillary | $50.00 | Hidden Springs |
| Hillary | $50.00 | Swenson |
| Hillary | $55.00 | Fina |
| Hillary | $85.00 | Song Sparrow |
| Hillary | C$130.00 | Blossom Hill |
| Joanna Marlene | $64.00 | Fina |
| Joanna Marlene | $75.00 | Swenson |
| Joanna Marlene | $80.00 | Adelman |
| Julia Rose | $45.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Julia Rose | $50.00 | Swenson |
| Julia Rose | $62.00 | Fina |
| Julia Rose | $75.00 | Adelman |
| Julia Rose | $75.00 | Brooks |
| Julia Rose | $79.00 | Peony's Envy |
| Julia Rose | $85.00 | Song Sparrow |
| Julia Rose | $99.00 | Cricket Hill |
| Julia Rose | C$130.00 | Blossom Hill |
| (Anderson's) Kaleidoscope | $60.00 | Swenson |
| Kopper Kettle | $95.00 | Brooks |
| Kopper Kettle | $99.00 | Adelman |
| (Copper) Kopper Kettle | $150.00 | Swenson |
| Lafayette Escadrille | $65.00 | Song Sparrow |
| Lemon Dream | $45.00 | Adelman |
| Lemon Dream | $45.00 | Brooks |
| Lemon Dream | $45.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Lemon Dream | $50.00 | Swenson |
| Little Darlin | $60.00 | Birchwood |
| Little Darlin | $65.00 | Song Sparrow |
| Lollipop | $45.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Lollipop | $80.00 | Brooks |
| Lollipop | $100.00 | Swenson |
| Love Affair | $150.00 | Brooks |
| Love Affair | $150.00 | Hidden Springs |
| Love Affair | $150.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Luxuriant | $150.00 | Solaris |
| Luxuriant | $150.00 | Swenson |
| Luxuriant | $175.00 | Brooks |
| Momo Taro (Peach Boy) | $48.00 | Fina |
| Morning Lilac | $70.00 | Adelman |
| Morning Lilac | $75.00 | Swenson |
| New Millennium | $120.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Norwegian Blush | $150.00 | Swenson |
| Old Rose Dandy | $40.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Old Rose Dandy | $40.00 | Swenson |
| Old Rose Dandy | $45.00 | Adelman |
| Old Rose Dandy | $45.00 | Brooks |
| Pastel Splendor | $35.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Pastel Splendor | $40.00 | Swenson |
| Pastel Splendor | $45.00 | Adelman |
| Pastel Splendor | $75.00 | Song Sparrow |
| Prairie Charm | $40.00 | Hollingsworth |
| Prairie Charm | $40.00 | Swenson |
| Prairie Charm | $50.00 | Birchwood |
| Prairie Charm | $50.00 | Hidden Springs |
| Prairie Charm | $70.00 | Song Sparrow |
| Rosy Prospects | $70.00 | Adelman |
| Rosy Prospects | $75.00 | Brooks |
| Royal Blush | $125.00 | Swenson |
| Saffron Innocence | $200.00 | Swenson |
| Scarlet Heaven | $40.00 | Adelman |
| Scarlet Heaven | $50.00 | Hollingsworth |
| Scarlet Heaven | $40.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Scarlet Heaven | C$80.00 | Blossom Hill |
| Scarlet Heaven | $89.00 | Cricket Hill |
| Sequestered Sunshine | $48.00 | Fina |
| Sequestered Sunshine | $75.00 | Swenson |
| Sequestered Sunshine | $85.00 | Brooks |
| Sequestered Sunshine | $100.00 | Song Sparrow |
| Singing in the Rain | $60.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Singing in the Rain | $75.00 | Brooks |
| Sonoma Amethyst | $65.00 | Adelman |
| Sonoma Amethyst | $65.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Sonoma Apricot | $60.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Sonoma Apricot | $80.00 | Adelman |
| Sonoma Blessing | $80.00 | Adelman |
| Sonoma Floozy | $80.00 | Adelman |
| Sonoma Halo | $250.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Sonoma Halo | $350.00 | Adelman |
| Sonoma Lavender Fancy | $50.00 | Adelman |
| Sonoma Rosy Future | $125.00 | Adelman |
| Sonoma Rosy Future | $150.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Sonoma Sun | $80.00 | Adelman |
| Sonoma Velvet Ruby | $60.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Sonoma Velvet Ruby | $65.00 | Adelman |
| Sonoma Welcome | $75.00 | Adelman |
| Strawberry Blush | $175.00 | Swenson |
| Sugar Plum Fairy | $75.00 | Hollingsworth |
| Tolomeo Itoh #L61 | $135.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Unique | $60.00 | Adelman |
| Unique | $60.00 | Hidden Springs |
| Unique | $60.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Unique | $60.00 | Swenson |
| Viking Full Moon | $40.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Viking Full Moon | $40.00 | Swenson |
| Viking Full Moon | $45.00 | Adelman |
| Watermelon Wine | $125.00 | Swenson |
| Watermelon Wine | $150.00 | Adelman |
| Watermelon Wine | $150.00 | Brooks |
| White Emperor | $125.00 | Swenson |
| Yellow Crown | $40.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Yellow Dream | C$100.00 | Blossom Hill |
| Yellow Emperor | $45.00 | Solaris Farms |
| Yellow Emperor | $45.00 | Swenson |
| Yellow Emperor | $85.00 | Song Sparrow |
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
2016 Registered for American Peony Society Convention
I did it! I finally got my registration in for the 2016 American Peony Society Convention. I am already excited! I can't wait to see all of my peony friends again, meet some new ones, and of course see all of those gorgeous flowers! The convention is going to be in Wisconsin this year. This will be the second peony convention I've attended in Wisconsin. The first one I went to was in Janesville, WI, and it was nice. So I am looking forward to this one in Green Bay, especially since I've never been to Green Bay before. Plus, we are going to be touring the gardens of Nate Bremer of Solaris Farms and of Bill Seidl. It will be nice to meet both of them and see all of their peonies. I can't wait! Also don't forget about the tour of Klehm's Song Sparrow - a rare opportunity to buy their normally mail order only plants in person! Plus, there's always the exhibit, lectures, and of course the banquet and peony auction! So what are you waiting for? Sign up now!!! :-) I hope to see you all there!
2016 American Peony Society Convention
2016 American Peony Society Convention
Sunday, January 10, 2016
2016 New Peony Breaking Dormancy Too Early
Intersectional Peony 'Prairie Charm' Breaking Dormancy Too Early
This happens on occasion, new peony foliage breaking dormancy too early. It's happened before like this 2012 Newly Planted Peony Sprouting in Fall. That peony lived, but those early sprouts of foliage did not, which is not ideal since the newly divided root is wasting its limited energy reserves on foliage that does not live. Usually the new peony will live, but it will just take longer for it to become established and bloom. This situation usually occurs in peonies that are newly planted, especially here in the South since the weather is warmer here than the climate they were previously growing in. As is the case with this Intersectional Peony 'Prairie Charm' from Moscow, PA - which appears to be in growing zone 5b/6a. I am in growing zone 7b. So that is at least 1.5 growing zones to about 2 full growing zones colder than where I am.
Intersectional Peony 'Prairie Charm' With Extra Mulch
This time, I noticed the dormancy break early, and tried throwing some much over it to block the sun and hopefully keep the foliage from freezing. I am hoping that by blocking the sun, the sprout will not continue to grow, and I'm also hoping that by covering the sprout with mulch, the newly emerging foliage will be protected from the freezing cold temperatures. Our winter has been very weird this year so far. We were warm for most of December, then it finally got cold for a week or so. Then it got hot again, and now cold again. I'm guessing this is how the rest of winter will play out too. I hope this little plant will figure out that it's not time to sprout yet and stay under this new layer of mulch!
Sunday, January 3, 2016
2016 Southern Peony Joins Facebook!
Well, finally! Southern Peony finally joins Facebook! It's about time, it's only 2016! Happy New Year to all of my fellow peony lovers and growers out there! You now have a new way to keep up with all of the latest news here at Southern Peony through your favorite social media site - Facebook. So check out our new Southern Peony Facebook page and give us a like! All of our posts here will get posted to Facebook as well. That way you can see lots of gorgeous peony pics while you're catching up on all the family gossip and friend's photos! ;-) Also please tell all your peony friends about us too!
Southern Peony on Facebook
Southern Peony on Facebook
Monday, December 28, 2015
2015 Dreaming Up a Peony Wish List for Next Year
It's that time of year, the time when the cold outside starts to keep you inside. There's a nip in the air, and a bit more warmth inside. Somehow you find yourself dreaming of spring and all of those blooms you know are waiting just below the ground. What better way to whet your appetite for spring than reviewing the catalogs of peony growers and dreaming up a wish list of peonies for next year? And what better place to record peony dreams than on these "I Love Peonies - My Wish List" notepads that came in a Peony Basket from my 2015 APS Auction Winnings at the APS Convention this year. If you think there aren't any 2016 Peony Catalogs out yet, then think again! Some peony vendors post their 2016 catalogs early, like Brooks Gardens, Hidden Springs Flower Farm, and Klehm's Song Sparrow. So start dreaming!!!
Peony Wish List Notepads
Peony Wish List Notepads
Friday, December 18, 2015
2015 P. Rockii Seeds Arrived via Air Mail from Canada
Monday, December 14, 2015
2015 Thank You Card for Peony for Historic Whitehall
I must say I was delighted to receive this thank you card in the mail a couple weeks ago from the Executive Director at Historic Whitehall. The card was sent to thank me for the Peony 'Bartzella' I sent them as a 2015 Peony Donation to Historic Whitehall Gardens to thank them for giving our APS members such a wonderful tour of their house and gardens. It is quite nice to get such a lovely snowy white card in the mail at a time that many APS members have snow in their gardens. We rarely get snow here. If we do, it usually melts within a day or two. Some years we don't get any snow that sticks to the ground or any snow at all. So this card with a beautiful snowball bush in front of their white columns is a good reminder that winter is almost here.
Thank You Card from Historic Whitehall
Thank You Card from Historic Whitehall
Monday, December 7, 2015
2015 Southern Peony 'Bartzella' Winner - Launa in AL
I bet you are all wondering what happened with the 2015 Southern Peony Giveaway - Itoh Peony 'Bartzella' that was given away to celebrate 2015 Southern Peony Reaches 100,000 Pageviews! Well, after drawing 3 names, I finally got a winner that responded - Launa M. in Alabaster, Alabama. After getting her address, it took a bit of time to figure out an address to which the United States Post Office would deliver. After getting all of that figured out, her intersectional Peony 'Bartzella' was mailed last week. It looks like Alabaster is just south of Birmingham, Alabama. So Launa is in USDA growing zone 7b, the exact same growing zone as we have here at Southern Peony in NC! So Launa's 'Bartzella' peony should acclimate and settle in quickly for her, hopefully getting a great start. I hope her new peony grows well for her! Thanks again to all of our Southern Peony readers!
Alabaster, Alabama USDA Growing Zone 7b
Alabaster, Alabama USDA Growing Zone 7b
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
2015 Peony Donation Coastal Georgia Botanical Garden
While on our family Labor Day vacation to Savannah, Georgia, I wanted to visit a local garden. So I looked it up on Google, and found that the Coastal Georgia Botanical Garden was nearby. My family and I had a nice time visiting the gardens, and while we were there I asked to speak to the curator or main horticulturalist. I met Jamie, told him I was in the American Peony Society, and spoke to him about growing peonies. He wasn't sure if they'd grow in his Zone 8b garden, and they didn't currently have any peonies there. I told him I'd like to send him an intersectional peony from my Zone 7b garden, that I thought it might grow there and become acclimated more quickly since it was only one growing zone away.
Three Intersectional Peony 'Bartzella' Roots
He seemed hesitant at first, but by the end of the conversation he was asking if I could send him three of the roots so they could trial them in different areas of the garden. That is wonderful news! I am so excited! I told him I wasn't sure if I could send three roots, but I dug one of my intersectional 'Bartzella' peonies last month and was able to divide it into three large pieces. So I am sending all three of them to him. Jamie asked me to hold the roots to ship in early December to make sure they didn't try to sprout in their warm fall weather. So I just shipped them out to him today. Jamie commented to me in an email, "If this peony flourishes here, there will be rumblings among many garden club members." I can't wait to hear the rumblings!! :-)
Intersectional Peony Roots Boxed for Shipping
Three Intersectional Peony 'Bartzella' Roots
He seemed hesitant at first, but by the end of the conversation he was asking if I could send him three of the roots so they could trial them in different areas of the garden. That is wonderful news! I am so excited! I told him I wasn't sure if I could send three roots, but I dug one of my intersectional 'Bartzella' peonies last month and was able to divide it into three large pieces. So I am sending all three of them to him. Jamie asked me to hold the roots to ship in early December to make sure they didn't try to sprout in their warm fall weather. So I just shipped them out to him today. Jamie commented to me in an email, "If this peony flourishes here, there will be rumblings among many garden club members." I can't wait to hear the rumblings!! :-)
Intersectional Peony Roots Boxed for Shipping
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
2015 Purple Peony Rockii Seeds from Ebay Canada
I have been wanting to grow a flower like this for a long time. I love purple! A peony with purple petals and dark purple flares is right up my alley. So I'm hoping these Paeonia rockii babies will be just as gorgeous as their beautiful mother. Of course when I came across the listing for these seeds on Ebay, I just had to buy some. Also this seller is in Canada, not in China where these plants originate. So I may have a better chance of actually receiving the correct seeds that are from this year's crop as stated in the auction. Since it will take a few years to actually find out what these babies look like, a lot of patience is in order to see their beautiful blossoms. I will definitely document their germination rates in the spring! Let's hope they all grow! :-)
Purple Paeonia Rockii with Dark Purple Flares
Photo Courtesy of The Seed Harvest
Purple Paeonia Rockii with Dark Purple Flares
Photo Courtesy of The Seed Harvest
Sunday, November 22, 2015
2015 Finished Cutting Back & Cleaning Up All Peonies
Yesterday I actually finished cutting back and cleaning up all of my peonies, the week before Thanksgiving! I think that's a record for me. I am usually a very slack gardener and a very good procrastinator. So lots of years I am cutting back brown, completely dried up peony stems in December and January, and occasionally in February! This year I started cutting back my peony plants as they started to look bad (when they still had a bit of gold or green or red in them and weren't all brown), and I finally finished this weekend. I started cutting back and cleaning up my peonies on October 1st. So I've been cutting them back over an almost 2 month period. Now they are just nicely groomed and freshly mulched beds waiting for spring! It feels so nice to be done with this very large task before the holidays even start. :-) If you haven't started cutting back your peonies, now's the time to do it!
Peony Beds Cut Back and Cleaned for the Winter
Peony Beds Cut Back and Cleaned for the Winter