Friday, February 28, 2014

2014 First Signs of (Tree Peony) Life


Tree Peony 'Li Yuan Chun'

Well even though it doesn't quite feel like spring yet, and it is still February, I am starting to see the first signs of life on some of my tree peonies (including some of the very cheap sticks / Tree Peonies I Planted from China!) I can't believe how much one of the more mature and Expensive Tree Peonies from a tree peony farm here in the US, Tree Peony Garden, has already started to grow. I'm guessing this one will have at least one blossom this year (or maybe more), and I can't wait to see its lovely pink flower. Also 3 of the Tree Peonies from China via Ali Express are already showing signs of life via tiny red buds originating at their base. I planted most of these as deep as possible hoping they would develop their own roots and prevent any possible grafted roots from sprouting. So we'll see when their leaves open whether these are tree peony sprouts or herbaceous peony sprouts.

Sprouting Tree Peony from China via Ali Express


Sprouting Tree Peony from China via Ali Express


Sprouting Tree Peony from China via Ali Express

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

2014 Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List

So. I really like intersectional peonies (also known as Itoh peonies). I've collected quite a few of them, but I definitely do not have them all (especially some of the more expensive varieties). So I've been keeping my eye on their prices, and they have been coming down in price as they become more common in the marketplace. I created a spreadsheet with all of the available varieties for 2014 from nurseries that specialize in peonies. I haven't ordered from all of these vendors, so I can't speak for their quality or reliability, but I thought this might be helpful information for other gardeners out there looking to collect intersectional peonies as well or maybe just add the first one to your garden. Also if you have your heart set on a particular variety, get your order in early, because some of these will sell out (and some of them already have)! 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.)

Price Change from Last Year
Adelman - mostly same or higher
Bannister - lower
Birchwood - same
Blossom Hill - same
Brooks - mostly lower or same
Buck Canyon - same or lower
Cricket Hill - mostly same or lower
Fina - same
Hidden Springs - same
Hollingsworth - mostly higher or same
Peony's Envy - higher or same
Solaris Farms - same or lower
Song Sparrow - same or higher
Swenson - mostly lower or same

Intersectional PeonyPriceVendor
Al's Choice$75.00Brooks
Ballarena de Saval$70.00Adelman
Bartzella$45.00Solaris Farms
Bartzella$60.00Fina
Bartzella$60.00Swenson
Bartzella$75.00Brooks
Bartzella$75.00Buck Canyon
Bartzella$79.00Peony's Envy
Bartzella$79.99Hidden Springs
Bartzella$80.00Adelman
Bartzella$80.00Hollingsworth
Bartzella$85.00Birchwood
Bartzella$90.00Song Sparrow
Bartzella$99.00Cricket Hill
BartzellaC$150.00Blossom Hill
Berry Garcia$125.00Brooks
Border Charm$35.00Swenson
Border Charm$40.00Adelman
Border Charm$44.00Hollingsworth
Border Charm$45.00Birchwood
Border Charm$60.00Song Sparrow
Callie's Memory$75.00Solaris Farms
Callie's Memory$75.00Swenson
Callie's MemoryC$130.00Blossom Hill
Canary Brilliants$60.00Swenson
Canary Brilliants$70.00Adelman
Canary Brilliants$70.00Brooks
Canary Brilliants$79.00Peony's Envy
Canary Brilliants$90.00Solaris Farms
Chief Black Hawk$225.00Brooks
Chief Black Hawk$350.00Swenson
Copper Kettle$80.00Solaris Farms
Copper Kettle$150.00Swenson
Cora Louise$60.00Adelman
Cora Louise$60.00Birchwood
Cora Louise$60.00Brooks
Cora Louise$60.00Buck Canyon
Cora Louise$60.00Swenson
Cora Louise$74.95Hidden Springs
Cora Louise$79.00Peony's Envy
Cora Louise$99.00Cricket Hill
Court Jester$60.00Swenson
First Arrival$45.00Solaris Farms
First Arrival$60.00Adelman
First Arrival$60.00Brooks
First Arrival$60.00Swenson
First Arrival$75.00Buck Canyon
First Arrival$125.00Bannister
First ArrivalC$130.00Blossom Hill
Garden Treasure$40.00Solaris Farms
Garden Treasure$55.00Fina
Garden Treasure$60.00Swenson
Garden Treasure$65.00Buck Canyon
Garden Treasure$68.00Birchwood
Garden Treasure$69.99Hidden Springs
Garden Treasure$80.00Adelman
Garden Treasure$80.00Bannister
Garden Treasure$80.00Brooks
Garden Treasure$84.00Hollingsworth
Garden Treasure$89.00Peony's Envy
Garden Treasure$99.00Cricket Hill
Going Bananas$40.00Adelman
Going BananasC$130.00Blossom Hill
Hidden Treasure$35.00Solaris Farms
Hillary$50.00Adelman
Hillary$50.00Brooks
Hillary$50.00Swenson
Hillary$60.00Buck Canyon
Hillary$60.00Fina
Hillary$64.95Hidden Springs
Hillary$75.00Solaris Farms
HillaryC$130.00Blossom Hill
Japanese Itoh$35.00Swenson
Joanna Marlene$80.00Adelman
Joanna Marlene$100.00Swenson
Julia Rose$50.00Swenson
Julia Rose$75.00Adelman
Julia Rose$75.00Brooks
Julia Rose$75.00Solaris Farms
Julia RoseC$130.00Blossom Hill
Kaleidoscope$75.00Buck Canyon
Kaleidoscope$75.00Swenson
Kaleidoscope$90.00Brooks
Kaleidoscope$125.00Hidden Springs
Kopper Kettle$99.00Adelman
Lafayette Escadrille$60.00Song Sparrow
Lemon Dream$44.00Buck Canyon
Lemon Dream$45.00Adelman
Lemon Dream$45.00Solaris Farms
Lemon Dream$50.00Brooks
Lemon Dream$50.00Swenson
Lemon Dream$79.00Peony's Envy
Little Darlin$60.00Birchwood
Little Darlin$60.00Song Sparrow
Lollipop$75.00Solaris Farms
Love Affair$156.00Hollingsworth
Luxuriant$175.00Brooks
Maroon Dragon Claw$89.00Cricket Hill
Momo Taro (Peach Boy)$45.00Solaris Farms
Morning Lilac$64.00Buck Canyon
Morning Lilac$70.00Adelman
Morning Lilac$70.00Brooks
Morning Lilac$100.00Swenson
New Millennium$120.00Solaris Farms
New Millennium$250.00Swenson
Old Rose Dandy$35.00Swenson
Old Rose Dandy$44.95Hidden Springs
Old Rose Dandy$45.00Adelman
Old Rose Dandy$45.00Solaris Farms
Old Rose Dandy $89.00Cricket Hill
Pastel Splendor$35.00Solaris Farms
Pastel Splendor$35.00Swenson
Pastel Splendor$45.00Adelman
Pastel Splendor$47.95Hidden Springs
Pastel Splendor$70.00Song Sparrow
Pastel SplendorC$80.00Blossom Hill
Prairie Charm$35.00Swenson
Prairie Charm$50.00Birchwood
Prairie Charm$50.00Brooks
Prairie Charm$54.95Hidden Springs
Prairie Charm$60.00Bannister
Prairie Charm$60.00Hollingsworth
Prairie Charm$65.00Song Sparrow
Rosy Prospects$99.00Adelman
Rosy Prospects$99.00Brooks
Rosy Prospects$200.00Swenson
Royal Blush$150.00Swenson
Saffron Innocence$200.00Swenson
Scarlet Heaven$35.00Swenson
Scarlet Heaven$40.00Adelman
Scarlet Heaven$45.00Solaris Farms
Scarlet Heaven$79.00Peony's Envy
Scarlet HeavenC$80.00Blossom Hill
Scarlet Heaven$89.00Cricket Hill
Sequestered Sunshine$45.00Solaris Farms
Sequestered Sunshine$75.00Swenson
Shining Light$35.00Swenson
Singing in the Rain$125.00Brooks
Sonoma Amethyst$65.00Adelman
Sonoma Amethyst$65.00Buck Canyon
Sonoma Amethyst$75.00Solaris Farms
Sonoma Apricot$80.00Adelman
Sonoma Blessing$80.00Adelman
Sonoma Floozy$80.00Adelman
Sonoma Halo$350.00Adelman
Sonoma Rosy Future$125.00Adelman
Sonoma Rosy Future$150.00Solaris Farms
Sonoma Sun$80.00Adelman
Sonoma Velvet Ruby$80.00Adelman
Sonoma Welcome$75.00Adelman
Sonoma Yedo$200.00Solaris Farms
Unique$48.00Buck Canyon
Unique$50.00Swenson
Unique$60.00Adelman
Viking Full Moon$40.00Solaris Farms
Viking Full Moon$40.00Swenson
Viking Full Moon$44.95Hidden Springs
Viking Full Moon$45.00Adelman
Viking Full Moon$110.00Song Sparrow
Watermelon Wine$150.00Adelman
White Emperor$150.00Swenson
Yellow Crown$45.00Solaris Farms
Yellow Dream$100.00Brooks
Yellow Emperor$40.00Swenson
Yellow Emperor$55.00Solaris Farms
Yellow Heaven$90.00Brooks

Saturday, February 1, 2014

2014 Tree & Herbaceous Peonies in the Snow

Wow! This is a rare year for us. It snowed 4 days ago, and the snow is still here. We got about 3-4 inches of snow! Usually we have either no snow or only an inch that melts away by the very next day if not the same day. The weatherman was actually pretty accurate about the snow totals this time (just not the timing). The snow came about 6 hours later than they originally predicted - which caused some unnecessary school closings. My daughter was out of school Tuesday - Friday! We had lots of fun in the snow - going for a walk, sledding, and making snow angels.

Snow Forecast for NC

While I was out there I snapped a few pictures of my peonies in the snow. We got so much snow this time, the peony signs that stick up out of the ground were almost completely covered! Since the herbaceous peonies were buried, I took a few pictures of the tree and intersectional peonies in the snow since these are the only ones visible above the snow line. I know the snow is good for the herbaceous peonies since their buds are below ground and they need the chilling hours, but I'm not so sure how much the intersectional and tree peony buds appreciate the snow. I guess we'll find out in the spring. All of the tree peony buds are above ground and several of the intersectional buds are too, since I don't trim my intersectional peonies all the way back to the ground. :-)

Tree Peony 'Fragrant Jade' in Snow


Tree Peony 'Li Yuan Chun' in Snow


Intersectional Peony 'Bartzella' in Snow