Peonies
Theladygardens@aol.com (Fri, 02 Jun 2006 23:12:48 PDT)

Angela, my father always grew beautiful peonies so I love them. They are
not easy to grow in California. I keep one peony plant. They do not like to
be moved around or have their roots disturbed and when that happens they may
not bloom for a few years. During the winter months here it is not cold
enough, I purchase one of those cheap plastic jello rings from the grocery store,
eat or throw out the jello. Fill the ring with water, slide it in the
freezer. Every night for 6 weeks pull the ring of ice out, dump it out of the
container and around the stem, stalk, marker or whatever is visible of your
peony plant location. Fill the plastic container up with water and put it back
in the freezer. If you miss a night or two it won't matter but this does seem
to help with a bit of chilling.
My peony plant is in bloom now and it is worth it.
Also about those very expensive tree peonies that cost $150 or more. If
you can afford one, fine, if you can't, locate a cheaper source that sells
younger plants for a price you can tolerate and just plant it, ice it and assume
neither the $150 plant or the $29 plant are going to bloom for a few years.
By the time the plant is ready to bloom it will be larger.
Carolyn Craft in Los Gatos, CA