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.