Two and a half years ago I acquired a couple of peonies through a members-only sale of my local chapter of the North American Rock Garden Society (NARGS). You may not realize this, but most rock gardeners get interested in alpine plants after years of gardening experience. They are all plant geeks and expert (or [...]
Peonies
Peony Rescue with Cobrahead
March 20, 2012 – Posted in: Garden chores, New House, New Gardens, PeoniesThe unseasonably mild weather has prompted me to start in on garden clean-up. And since the garden was untended for at least a year, there is a lot of cleaning up to do. This was what the garden looked like last year in early June, the first time we went to see the house we [...]
The Truth About Organic Gardening: Book Review
March 11, 2008 – Posted in: Book reviews, PeoniesIf you can have only one of Jeff Gillman's books, The Truth About Organic Gardening: Benefits, Drawbacks, and the Bottom Line is the one to get. Don't get me wrong, The Truth About Garden Remedies is an interesting and informative read, but it mostly tells you what doesn't work, or what only "sorta" works. The [...]
Peonies: Garden Bloggers Bloom Day
June 19, 2007 – Posted in: Peonies'Bev' was planted in fall 2002 and has filled out substantiallyPeonies remind me of my paternal grandmother. Whether it was an evening with her bridge group, Sunday Mass, or a family cookout, she always dressed fashionably, including fully applied makeup and perfume. To be called glamorous was a compliment she always appreciated. She also grew [...]
What’s Wrong with My Peonies?
August 1, 2006 – Posted in: Peonies, Pests, Plagues, and Varmints, Plant info, WeatherThis spring, I had the most beautiful peonies in the world. I was especially taken with the foliage of 'Bev,' the one on the far right. It was a smoky purple. The flowers were spectacular, too, but I never managed to get a photograph this year. You can see them, here, though. One of the [...]
The Ladies
July 17, 2003 – Posted in: Peonies, Plant infoI'd like you to meet three special friends of mine: Aimee Bev Rozella I purchased 'Aimee' (actually 'Aimee's Pink') from Brent and Becky's Bulbs in autumn of 2000. It has taken her a while to build up strength, though I suspect if last year hadn't been so bad for spring flowers (with temps in the [...]
Planting prima donna peonies
October 20, 2002 – Posted in: How-to, Peonies, Plant infoThe peonies from Reath's came on Monday the 7th, but because of various commitments I couldn't plant them until Thursday. They came wrapped in plastic with wood shavings to keep them damp, and then the whole shebang was packed in straw or hay--the first time I ever saw that used as a shipping material. I [...]
My Peonies and My Colchicums
September 26, 2002 – Posted in: Colchicums, Peonies, Plant infoI bought my peonies at Reath's. They definitely are not the cheapest, but I am hoping their quality will be worth the price. A long time ago I fell in love with a photo of the herbaceous peony 'Bev' (Fine Gardening May '91) and Reath's is one of the few places that carry it. And [...]
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