I make a point of approaching herbaceous peonies with the respectful manner a garden dowager is due — given the good care they deserve, peonies can live longer than I will. Therefore, when it’s necessary to move or divide peonies, I make sure I’ve got my best manners and the season is autumn, when these ladies don’t mind a bit of handling. There are a couple of good reasons … [Read more...] about How to move peonies
peonies
Rain-proof peonies
Without fail, rain smashes the pale pink ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ peonies every year in early June, splattering the big double blooms across the lawn. (Peony rings and staking are no guarantee that a hard rain won’t shatter the flowers.) But not every peony is destroyed in a downpour. I have three clumps of white single, lemon-scented ‘Jan van Leeuwen’ peony (Paeonia lactiflora … [Read more...] about Rain-proof peonies
Peonies and butterflies
The past week of heat and sun has made the garden dry, and last night I let the sprinkler run for an hour. This morning I found the heavily budded peonies (those without ring supports) splat on the ground, victims of overhead irrigation. Well, I should have known better. Staking them up individually this morning, I realized this is a perfect time to remove the two smaller buds … [Read more...] about Peonies and butterflies
Some of my favourite peonies
I’ve been rattling boxes in the garage, looking for the peony rings. It’s time to get these supports in place now that the soil is soft and drained, and before the peonies send their dark stems upward. Sometimes I miss the moment, and then there’s no way of weaving the stems and foliage into the frames without damage. Did you see Patrick Lima’s article about reliable peonies … [Read more...] about Some of my favourite peonies
