2015 Collect Early Peony Seeds

Collect Early Peony Seeds
I can't believe it's already that time of year! Several of my peony's seed pods have ripened and popped open. There are many more varieties that are still ripening and haven't opened yet. However now's the time to collect the seeds that are ready so you don't lose them. They could easily be lost by getting eaten, or just falling to the ground and getting swept away by wind or rain. All you really need to collect seeds are a few bags for the seeds and a marker to write the peony variety name on each bag.
Seed Pod of Peony 'Strawberry Wine'
Also now is a great time to start collecting seeds for the American Peony Society Seed Distribution Program. If you don't plan to grow all or any of your seeds, you can donate them to the American Peony Society. Also as a bonus, donors get free seeds for every two varieties of peony seed they donate. So now is the time to start collecting as many different varieties as possible for donation. People who don't have any peony seed to donate, but would like to try growing peonies from seed, can also purchase seed from this program. :)
Seed Pod of Peony 'Roy Pehrson's Best Yellow'

2015 Saunders Peony Varieties Frozen Bud Blast

Since I have a separate garden dedicated specifically to peony varieties hybridized by Professor A. P. Saunders, it was easily apparent to me that several of these varieties suffered from bud blast due to the late freeze we received in March of this year. Earlier this year I documented how my Early Peonies Suffered Frozen Bud Blast. Now that I have collected some more specific data on bud counts, I wanted to share those findings too. Most of these very early and early blooming Saunders peonies suffered some bud damage fromt the late freeze. However there were a couple varieties that came through unscathed. I have several Saunders peonies that are still a bit immature and or recovering from being divided. So I've chosen not to include all of the Saunders peonies I grow in this table.

Saunders Peonies with Buds Blasted by Late Freeze
Peony Variety	Buds Blasted	Total Buds	Blast Rate
Peony 'Halcyon'	2	2	100%
Peony 'Honor'	6	6	100%
Peony 'May Music'	5	5	100%
Peony 'Nova'	2	2	100%
Peony 'Paladin'	6	6	100%
Peony 'Winterthur'	3	3	100%
Peony 'Lustrous'	8	9	89%
Peony 'Horizon'	4	5	80%
Peony 'Firelight'	6	8	75%
Peony 'Early White'	1	2	50%
Peony 'Lavender'	2	4	50%
Peony 'Sweet May'	4	8	50%
Peony 'Garden Peace'	7	15	47%
Peony 'Lovely Rose'	3	10	30%

There were a few Saunders peonies whose buds werent' affected by the late freeze at all. So if your area regularly encounters late freezes, and you'd like to grow some early blooming peony varieties, these are the Saunders peonies I'd recommend.

Peony 'Grace Root'	Peony 'Great Lady'	Peony 'Rose Garland'

Saunders Peonies Unaffected by Late Freeze
Peony Variety	Buds Blasted	Total Buds	Blast Rate
Peony 'Grace Root'	0	9	0%
Peony 'Great Lady'	0	3	0%
Peony 'Rose Garland'	0	5	0%

2015 How to Deadhead an Intersectional Peony

Deadheading your intersectional peonies is really a personal preference. I actually prefer to leave the seedpods on my intersectional peonies. The seedpods actually provide some additional interest and height on the bush. Since intersectional peonies do not actually form seeds 99% of the time, the plant is not wasting any energy creating seeds if you leave them on. On the flip side since there not any seeds being created, you don't have to leave them on for seed production. Also some gardeners may find the bush more aesthetically pleasing without them. So this guide is intended to help all of the intersectional peony pruners out there. The method to Deadhead an intersectional peony is not too different from the method of How to Deadhead an Herbaceous Peony.
Intersectional Peony 'Pastel Splendor' with Seedpods
Deadheading is the process of removing the spent bloom heads from your peony plant. To start this process you'll want to have your favorite pair of pruners and a trash bag handy for deadheading. Since it is not a good idea to compost your peony clippings due to fungal blight concerns, you will want to throw away the seedpods after pruning them from the peony bush. When you prune the seedpods from the plant, you'll actually cut off a portion of the stem. This portion of the stem can definitely carry fungal spores in the stem tissue. So put the seedpods in your trash bag after you've removed them.
Intersectional Peony Seedpods Remain After Flowering

Intersectional Peony Seedpod
Take a look at the seedpod you'd like to remove first. If you follow the stem down to the first leaf junction, you'll find the point where you'll want to prune your plant. You'll want to make your cut just above the leaf junction to trim the stem down to this point, while preserving as much of the foliage as possible. After you make the cut, collect your deadheaded seed pod and put it in your trash bag. Simply repeat this process for each seedpod on your peony plant until you have removed all of them.
Pruning Intersectional Peony Seedpod
After pruning your intersectional peony, the plant will appear a little cleaner, and a little greener. Now is a good time to add a slow release organic fertilizer or composted cow manure around the drip line of your peony plants. Slow release, organic nutrients will be available throughout the season for your peonies, even into the fall when they are storing energy and nutrients to produce next year's blooms.
Intersectional Peony After Pruning
Also if you have any extended periods of drought over the summer, you will want to give your peonies some additional water to keep the foliage from wilting. Peonies are tough plants, and they can definitely withstand some drought. Mine have several years, but the plants will be healthier with some added water. That's it. Sit back, enjoy the green, and start dreaming about how many big beautiful blooms you'll have next year!
Intersectional Peony 'Pastel Splendor' after Deadheading

2015 Summer Peony Order - Solaris Farms

It's a little tricky to navigate their catalog, but if you can get your order in, it's well worth it. I ordered a rockii Tree Peony 'Angel Emily' from them last year, and it is doing very well this year. It has grown quite a bit, and the foliage is a beautiful green with no blight. I can't wait to see it's flowers! This year I ordered Intersectional Peony 'Momo Taro'. I haven't seen this one offered anywhere else. It says it is an unregistered seedling. I am curious to see how this intersectional peony grows and flowers. Its description says is supposed to be a good landscaping plant. I think I mostly ordered it for the name (and maybe the color too). Momo Taro means Peach Boy in Japanese. I went to a local Japanese festival here a few years ago, and they had a storyteller that actually told this story. Momo Taro is a well know Japanese children's story, and the storyteller was very good at telling it. So the peony's name actually brings back a happy memory for me. :-) I also ordered rockii Tree Peony 'Lavender Hill'. Since purple is one of my favorite colors, I am excited to try to use this one for hybridizing in the future since the description says it is fertile both ways. If you haven't gotten your peony order in yet for fall shipment, time is running short. Check your favorite peony vendor's inventory for availability for fall shipment!
Solaris Farms Summer Peony Order

2015 New Hot Pink Double in Peony Seedling Test Bed

There did turn out to be one interesting peony blooming in my peony seedling bed this year. It was a bomb looking double hot pink peony. My recent experience tells me that the bloom form of a peony seedling may change as the plants matures. So next year the bloom form could be totally double. I have flagged this plant to be moved to my other less crowded peony seedling bed for closer inspection and monitoring. I plan to move this peony in the fall after the foliage has gone dormant so as not to disturb the plant too much.

Hot Pink Bomb Double Peony Seedling

Hot Pink Bomb Double Peony Seedling in Peony Seedling Bed
Some other things I noticed about this peony that interest me are the presence of size buds. There were three buds on one stem, one main bud and two side buds. These side buds opened in succession after the main bud, which extended the plant's bloom period. Also this peony appears to be a late bloomer. Take a look at the photo above, and you can see all the buds opened nicely without any late season sun and heat damage. This is a great feature for late season peonies that are going to be grown in the South since some late season bloomers here sustain damage to the blooms that prevent them from opening fully.
Hot Pink Bomb Double Peony Seedling Still Blooming
After All Other Peony Seedlings Done Blooming


Hot Pink Bomb Double Peony Seedling
Side Buds Still Blooming Late in the Season
The only drawback to this peony I see so far is that the stem was bent in half, and although all of the buds still opened, they were upside down. I'm not sure if the lack of stem strength is due to all of the competition with the other seedlings in my peony seedling bed (my peony seedling bed is quite crowded) or perhaps because it is at the back of the bed near the woods, and it is reaching for the sun. Either way by moving this peony and observing it separately, I will be able to discern its true habit. Hopefully it will stand up when it is on its own. :-)