thanks, Gita and Typ--very interesting information! It sounds like I should move it to a better location this fall. I appreciated all the detailed information about using a rich organic mulch. I'll have to take a look for the 'eyes'.
Really end of summer blooms- September almost here
WooHoo!! My Paeonies have eyes!! =) I took some shots of the stuff out front this morning, on my way to work.. will work on getting them downloaded... hopefully we can see those eyes peeking at us. =)
yes, I'd like to see what they look like!! :-)
I was in kind of a destructive/stressed out mood last night and got it in my head that I would transplant my peony. It's a super old plant apparently, tons of roots. I'm moving it because it's in a bad spot, too shady. It only ever puts out 1 flower every year.
Let me say I regret doing that last night and am wishing I had been more gentle. Oh well.
I got a few chunks of plant out before running out of time. Here's the prettiest piece. The eyes on my roots are white right now, I guess they won't turn red till spring? Anyway as Sally said, make sure to plant so that the eyes are just under the soil! Peonies sulk for up to 3 years before blooming again after transplanting, or so I hear. I got lucky and got my first transplanted one to bloom the first Spring! Although I hear I should have sacrificed that first year's bloom.
Whatev. That plant is so happy now.
I dug peonies from moms house during the summer 2011. Not sure what they did 2012, they bloomed 2013.
A bunch of good eyes on that division, Karen.
I bet it will do just fine. May need a bit of patience on your part...
to see a bloom....
I have moved some peonies in the past--but it has been too long ago for me to
remember how they did and when they bloomed.....G.
Thanks, Gita. This particular plant has that big cabbage-y light pink bloom. I'm not so in love with the color but it looks incredible against my blue dining room. Peonies are hard for me to justify in my yard because they take up a lot of space and bloom for such a short time. But when they are blooming, they are amazing. And at least the foliage is pretty and offers a nice green foil. I use the leaves in flower arrangements even after the blooms are done. If I had a bigger yard, I'd get more varieties. But right now just the fuchsia and the pink. I like the white flower you posted up there with the pink flecks. Very pretty.
Toad lily!!
An ugly name for such a pretty plant. Lovely, Paul! What a fascinating little flower.
Karen--
I think the white peony with the fuchsia flecks is called "Festiva Maxima"....
Not 100% sure...but I saw it somewhere today searching for a picture
of the "eyes"....
What do you think?
http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/BPEFM.html
Looks like it to me! Gosh it's pretty.
That Festiva Maxima is sure pretty!
Typ, thanks for the photo of the roots and eyes. I would never have envisioned that. Fingers crossed that it settles in well into its new spot and is producing beautiful flowers for you soon!!
After looking at my pics of the Paeony I see that ya can't see the eyes!!. Will get some new shots so we can see them.
You all have me thinking seriously about my peony. Here's a photo of it, looking sort of pathetic under the redbud tree.
Also, the house's previous owner had planted a rhododendron under the row of azaleas fronting the house. I just noticed this morning that the original trunk of the rhodie is actually *under* the azaleas, and the plant has grown sideways out from under them. I think when she planted them they were all nice young plants, but the azalea eventually grew out *over* the rhodie. Right now, the rhodie has some buds on it for next summer but overall is quite stunted in its growth. (There is another mature rhodie at the other end of the row of azaleas, but it is spaced well and looks big and healthy.)
So, any special tips on moving the peony? I'm also thinking of pulling out the rhodie. It's hard when I see the buds forming for next summer, but I can't see how it's good for either the azalea or the rhodie to have it growing the way it is.
Peony doesn't look too bad for this time of year, seems to me. Did it bloom well, or not? It is going dormant this time of year. If it bloomed well, no need to move or divide. If it hasn't bloomed well, then see above for links about how to.
I got a noid heirloom peony from a local gardener last fall. She divided a very old peony, and didn't protect it or pot it up before giving me a small piece of it. It was a couple of days before I could get it in the ground. The top died almost immediately after planting and I figured it had died. I don't think I even watered it in well.
To my great surprise, it popped up this spring! It didn't flower, but the leaves looked very healthy. It was in a pretty tight spot, so last month I dug it up again and planted it in a sunnier spot with more room for the roots. The top died down almost immediately, just as it did last year, but I'm hopeful!
thanks, Sally. The bloom this year was so-so. As I recall, we had some unusual weather around that time that may have shortened the bloom time. It's good to know it may just be the time of year, with plants going dormant. Maybe I'll just leave it be for now and see how it does next spring.
SSG, that is amazing about your peony! I hope it does well in its new location.
Cat--
Sally is right. This time of year ALL peonies look like yours--and many, a lot worse.
The leaves are dying off-and will be cut back anyway.
Try top-dressing the Peony with some good compost after you cut off the foliage.
Would it be a good time of year to do this...anyone? if not--then really early next spring.
My Peonies are ALL cut back already. Mostly because they all were getting powdery Mildew.
However--this is absolutely normal here--and no out of norm.
I have been starting to clean up my beds. pulling things up and cutting things back.
Cut one of the main trunks off of the Dr. Seuss this evening and divvied it up in sections
to root. All potted up already. More than I wanted to--but what else is new....
Now to get Scott (from Cylburn) to find a day to come and get the big one.
Iris foliage is cut back. DL dried bloom-stems are all removed. (seeds are saved)
My smaller maple is shedding all her leaves as we speak. The lawn is covered!
Will wait a day or more before I rake--as not all the leaves are down yet.
Sun Golds are still cranking out tomatoes--a hand-full every day.
Can't say i am eating them.....I love them--but one cannot just sit down and eat tomatoes!
Taking some to work and sharing with my neighbor as well...
Fall is surely here--at least as far as gardening is concerned.
I bet when the REAL cold hits, i will be glad that I did all these things early...
OH! BTW--I finished, lovingly and carefully re-potting all my AV's yesterday.
are now trimmed and potted in fresh AV soil.
Did so on Jill's advice. They better bloom sometimes now!!!
And, Sally--NO! I did not save any of the leaves I pulled off to root.
Aren't you proud of me?
Sad day tomorrow at the HD for most of us--one of our ASM's (John) is transferring
to the Cockeysville store. We all grew quite fond of him.
I am giving him one of my Swedish Ivy HB's as a going away gift.
it will be his and his wife's first houseplant. She is prissy and into herself a lot.
So--she is not interested...She is also 6mos, pregnant--so I hope she will "grow up" a bit.
Phew! Gita
Here is John's gift. He knows...I asked if he wanted it. he did not really have a choice.
The other one is my bigger one by my front door. I have a 3rd one and many more coming....
These root so easily...I have been keeping this plant going forever.
Don't know when i first got it. Maybe 25 years ago?
yes I am proud- 36 or so whatever you said is enough! Besides, if they were struggling, maybe those leaves would not have been the most vigorous things anyway.
Plectranthus is finally covered in bloom. I finally bought some fall pansies today, will make pots tomorrow for by the front door, tho I am puzzled by a missing one of the pair. Its out there somewhere.
False dragonhead and NEW york aster in bloom, and Jerusalem artichokes.
I can tell by the winding down of the chatter in here that the winding down of the gardening must be going on as well... either that, or the perfect weather of yesterday had everyone running outside in droves yesterday with spades and pruners in hand, and choruses of HI-HO, HI-HO, IT'S OFF TO GARDEN WE GO ringing through the air! And then, after all the weeding and pruning, raking and mulching, there must have been many tired choruses of ZZZzzzzzzzz ringing through the air. < =)
My own choruses rang of the tried and true ".. it's off to WORK we go", and off to work I went, but before I did, I got my pants dirty by crawling around to get real shots of the Paeony's roots.. and I learned that there is only ONE eye that I can see. BUT, it's there, so I am happy!! It's visible in the shot here... see that very dark, black-looking horizontal root? The eye is right above that horizontal root, on the left side of it. It's reddish around the outside and green in the center. Whatever, I'll take it! Every other effort I've made at rooting these things has failed, so I'll take what I can get. ;)
Meanwhile, I had time before the busy-ness exploded, so I wandered around with iPod in hand and got a few pics of a few of the pretties we have left.
Some of the knockout roses, including a lovely red rose bud. < =D
Last shot, my favourite Anemones! =)
This message was edited Sep 29, 2013 5:08 AM
Thanks, Gita! And it sounds like you were super-productive yesterday! The Swedish Ivy is beautiful--I'm sure your coworker will think of you fondly for years to come every time he looks at it. :-)
Sally--photos please!! :-)
Speedie, I so love your humor and am really looking forward to meeting you soon. Your roses and anemones are beautiful--and congrats on that eye!
I got some work done yesterday--a few plants that needed to be moved (including the Dazzleberry from the swap--it didn't seem to like the spot where I put it). Gita, the astilbe you gave me is doing great! I found a very shady, moist spot by the shed and it seems to be thriving there. Plus I finally got my new Fireball and Amsonia planted--a good thing I waited, as the Fireball was getting leaf scorch in the spot I originally chose for it.
I think I need to do some cutting back today. That is good to know that the peony likes to be cut back--I didn't know that!
1) Joe Pye going to town
2) my volunteer celosia
3) I love the color my new 'Fireball' brings. Lantana and marigold still in full bloom, and my wisteria is beginning to creep along its trellis--the old clothesline!!
4)Phlox 'Nicky' still blooming for me, and I've loved the Melampodium
5) Gita's astilbe
This message was edited Sep 29, 2013 8:18 AM
Here's a better photo of my clothes line/trellis! I planted the wisteria (Amethyst Falls) there early this spring and it's done well. It did bloom a little in the spring and a few additional blooms later in the summer. Hope it does well next spring!
1) Wisteria climbing up and along my clothesline trellis
2) Guara has really bushed out--think I need to cut this back
3) The 'Purple Haze' agastache finally recovered, just like you all said it would! Yay! :-)
4) Black swallowtail caterpillar enjoying my fennel--I think he's just too adorable
5) Still blooming...
Lot of color in your garden Catmint!
thanks, Sally! I got a lot of late-blooming things so I would be able to enjoy the color for as long as possible! And now I'm looking forward to super late blooming with the winter jasmine you gave me as well! :-)
I love that we are getting some fall color this year! Lots of gold and red color around!
Okay, these are the last and then I'll stop--I promise! I've just been loving this weekend with the mild weather and pretty colors everywhere.
1) dogwood--fall colors--yay!
2) mum and German/Persian violet
3) Blue Beard, Denver Daisy, and my new Amsonia bush in the corner--fingers crossed it does well there
4) Petunia
5) NG Impatiens and Laguna Blue
cat--
You have inspired me to see what I have still going. I know I have
blooms still here and there. Just didn't think they were worth showing.
You will see them all soon enough. G.
thanks, Gita--it's especially nice to see them this time of year! :-)
Looking forward to seeing your photos!
This message was edited Sep 29, 2013 3:48 PM
Yep, spent some quality time outdoors yesterday. It was deeeelightful!!!!
Wow Catmint, your Denver Daisies are still blooming!
I think Petunias may be my favorite annuals. They bloom from spring until a hard freeze in late fall.
I didn't realize Eutrochium 'Chocolate' was also called Joe Pye Weed. Mine was in an awkward spot and the white blooms were getting lost with the white fencing behind it.
I love the petunias, too, SSG! :-) This pink one is my first, and I like it!
It's Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate' also called Joe Pye Weed:
http://www.provenwinners.com/plants/eupatorium/chocolate-joe-pye-weed-eupatorium-rugosum
I was looking for some Eupatorium this summer because it really attracts the pollinators, and this one caught my eye because of its interesting foliage color. It's grown nicely and is blooming well for me now. At first I had it in a spot that was too dry for it, but now it's in a very moist spot where it's happy.
According to Missouri Botanical Garden, Eupatorium rugosum 'Chocolate' is synonymous with and often sold as Ageratina altissima 'Chocolate'
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=v230
It's supposed to be good for attracting other beneficial insects besides bees, which is a major reason I got it:
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=AGAL5
"VALUE TO BENEFICIAL INSECTS
Supports Conservation Biological Control (A plant that attracts predatory or parasitoid insects that prey upon pest insects.)"
It's supposed to naturalize well in the garden, so I'm assuming I'll have lots to share at some point. ;-)
I would be happy to rehome any overflow of that Chocolate! Probably reseeds. Can you save some seedheads? (You know how I always encourage saving of seeds...snort) You may want to cut the seed heads and stick them where you might want them to sprout.
I allow the local native Eupatorium serotinum, and it IS great for bugs and smells good too.
Sally, I will definitely look for some seed heads on it and save some! :-)
Thank you Cat, I'm really looking forward to finally getting to meet you toooo!!! =) I was just sitting here a moment ago, house all silent and peaceful as I strolled through your photos... then I came to the one of the Astilbe that Gita gave you when suddenly the silence was broken by, "OOOOH!! NICE!!!!!!!" LOL!! I actually startled myself with speaking aloud.. SO loudly! < =D I am particularly fond of Astilbe and yours looks to be coming along REALLY Happily, BRAVO!!! All of your babies are really quite wow-inspiring! =)
The pics of the knockouts and Anemones that I shared are ones we have at work... I should have clarified that when I posted. The "busy-ness explosion" to which I referred was of the work variety. ;)
I've got 1 or 2 more shots of things I still have blooming out front... please ignore the weeds, I simply have had NO time to get out there to weed and mow, I spend all my at-home hours doing homework or going to school. (I want to get this class OVER WITH as soon as possible!!)
1- 2 of the Dahlias showing off their foliage. In the foreground is one of the spearmints I installed (mere brown sticks they were!), in the background, the wax Begonias are still going strong, and you can see one of the other Dahlias' blooms peeking into the shot!
2- The aforementioned Dahlia in bloom, with Calibrachoa in the background and more Begonias ... just sitting about. :)
3- The annual Verbena is still going strong; pinks and reds all filled out again. There are a few little purple Petunias hiding in there as well... will look MUCH nicer once I get it weeded and MOWED on the outside of that little Adirondack fencing!! =(
They are all gorgeous, Speedie! Can't believe how well your verbena does. And I love the effect of the dahlias in front of the begonias--very pretty!
I think it's amazing that you can complete a course while working full-time. I know I couldn't do it at this point in my life. My brain is pretty well fried at the end of the day...
Catching up - interesting chats about dividing/transplanting peonies. One of my favorite things is when the row of 'Vivid Rose' peonies bloom in May. They are now well established and must be happy in their location because they bloom profusely. I often think about dividing them, but then I worry about messing around with a good thing and just leave them alone. I think most of you have seen this picture before, but now I'm thinking about peonies and am posting it again. I've heard that October is the best time for planting peonies from the mail order places....
beautiful peonies, Aspenhill--and I love the statue in the background. It looks like she is welcoming all the peony blossoms! :-)
aspenhill- that peony bed is gorgeous and you matched it so well with something else- Weigela? in that area.
I 'think' peonies can stay in place for ages and stay happy- I guess some fertilization or compost is good.
I should post pics of my peony foliage- ranging from eh to OMG yuk right now. THe droer ones wilted during the sought- the yukkiest were blackened all summer cuz they are in classic poor drainage.
Hi Sally, missed your birthday wishes but chimed in late....
I have lilac 'Miss Kim' and iris 'Mary Frances', which are both lavender colors, in the same area with the peonies. The lilac and iris bloom a little bit earlier than the peonies - they are winding down just as the peonies are opening up, but there are a few beautiful days when the blooms do coincide.
OK--since I got all inspired by Cat's beautiful pictures--I went out
and took pictures of anything in bloom.
You know??? There was quite a bit...SO--I am sharing...
Just gonna "go around the house'....
Front of House....
1--Tall, sun Coleus and orange Zinnias.
2--Persian SWhiels
3--NG Impatiens and a red Penta in front of my Koromo Azalea.
4--Non Stop Begonias -- living up to their name...
5--Caravan Coleus, Red wax begonias by my Proteus Clematis
East side of House--
1--Mandevilla--beautiful until frost....always
2--Mandevilla blooms and white petunias--the ONLY ones still in bloom.
3--White petunias in my W-Boxes with other stuff.
4--Bed with too much in it to describe...E.S. Hydrangea on left.
5--The amazing Wax begonias--they are always in bloom. This is the old WS bed.
