Ellen Hornig asked about the performance of Paeonia emodi in areas outside the snowbelt. I've had a plant of Paeonia emodi here in my zone 7, Montgomery County, Maryland garden for over thirty years. In most years it is one of the two earliest herbaceous peonies to bloom, generally in latest April. My solitary plant sets viable seeds which produce plants evidently true to name. These seeds are large and blue and germinate readily. It is well adapted to our climate and the clump thickens yearly. It is well out of the ground very early, and it's not unusual for the new growth to be exposed to overnight freezes without harm to the developing foliage. On rare occasions the flower buds will fail to develop after a severe freeze. This plant was acquired back in the '70s of the last century from the Louis Smirnow company, and as I recall it was said to have been from an English source. I'd say that Jerry and Ellen show very good taste in peonies in their enthusiasm for this plant. When it bloom it has something of the elegance of a white-flowered autumn anemone, and I would not want to be without it. Jim McKenney jimmckenney@jimmckenney.com Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, USDA zone 7, where weedy Pinellia are blooming all over the garden. My Virtual Maryland Garden http://www.jimmckenney.com/ Webmaster Potomac Valley Chapter, NARGS Editor PVC Bulletin http://www.pvcnargs.org/ Webmaster Potomac Lily Society http://www.potomaclilysociety.org/