Peony season 2011
Jane McGary (Fri, 06 May 2011 16:55:54 PDT)
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.