2020 Peony Blooms Week 5 Late Mid

Many more of the fully double herbaceous peonies came into bloom this week. I must say this has been an awesome spring so far. The temperate weather and easy temperatures have really slowed down the bloom season this year, giving more time to enjoy the blooms and helping spread out the season. I wouldn't be surprised if we get a week 8 of blooms this year like we did in 2016, Southern Peony Bloom Dates. Peony 'Carl G. Klehm' bloomed for me for the first time this year, and I am really enjoy its unique coloration and the orderliness of its petal pattern.


Peony 'Kansas'

Peony 'Lois Kelsey'

Peony 'Topeka Garnet'

Peony 'Lake o' Silver'

Peony 'Festiva Maxima'

Peony 'Perfect Princess'

Peony 'Carl G. Klehm'

2020 Solarize Peony Bed Soil to Sterilize It

Solarize Peony Bed Soil to Sterilize It
As you may know, it appeared to me that my Intersectional Peony 'Callie's Memory' died of root rot, 2020 Intersectional Peony 'Callie's Memory' Dies of Root Rot? I have no way of knowing for sure, but there weren't any roots left on that peony. There could have been a host of factors that caused its demise. Regardless, it must have rotted in at least some way. So I decided to solarize the soil to kill any pathogens that might still be present there before replanting the area.


Solarize Peony Bed Soil to Sterilize It
To do this I simply placed a clear sheet of plastic over the area and weighted it down with bricks on the edges. After 6-8 weeks the soil should be ready for planting. However I will probably wait much longer than that to replant, most likely until fall to plant my replacement potted Intersectional Peony 'Callie's Memory', 2020 Potted Up Intersectional Peony Roots for Fall Planting. You may remember when I originally started this intersectional peony bed, I solarized the subsoil, 2012 Peony Bed Soil Solarization, before bringing in some 2012 New Dirt for New Peony Beds. I never solarized the new dirt I put on top as top soil. So I suppose now's the time to make sure I solarize it now too. ;-)

2020 ❤ Loving Intersectional Peony 'Gordon E. Simonson'

Intersectional Peony 'Gordon E. Simonson'
I must say I am really loving my Intersectional Peony 'Gordon E. Simonson'. This is the first year it has bloomed for me, and I was pleasantly surprised (maybe more like blown away)! I knew this one had a lot of hype around it, but the hype is real! The color on this one is really purplish too! I was expecting more pinkish. I did an RHS colour chart matching on this one, and I don't currently grow any other named cultivar that is exactly this color. It is quite unique and quite stunning!! The blooms are very large, and the beauty of the flowers just knocks your socks off! The price tag on this intersectional peony is still over $100, but dare I say, this one might actually be worth it!! Check out our 2020 Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List to see what peony growers are offering this plant for sale this year, if you're interested in snagging an Intersectional Peony 'Gordon E. Simonson' of your own!

2020 Intersectional Peony 'All That Jazz' on Ebay

Intersectional Peony 'All That Jazz' on Ebay
Since I wasn't really sure about the 2020 Ordering Peonies on Etsy from ExoticseedsLatvia peony I ordered, I decided to snag one of these Intersectional Peony 'All That Jazz' I saw on Ebay. I was wondering why the shipping was so high on this one, but then I figured maybe it must be a potted plant. Noticing the description also says, "shipped in container", made it seem like this might be a nice large potted plant. A potted plant seemed like it might have a better chance to be the correct/actual variety. So I decided to take a chance on this ITOH PEONY sold by 1critter4u.


Intersectional Peony 'All That Jazz' from 1critter4u on Ebay
Sure enough, when this thing arrived it was in a massive box, probably 4 feet tall. When it got here I was hoping it might be my 2020 Tree Peony 'Imperial Crown' at Song Sparrow, which hasn't arrived yet. However it was the Intersectional Peony 'All That Jazz' that I'd ordered from Ebay. The description of this one sounds interesting:

"Can host up to 50 softly fragrant blooms at a time at maturity."

"With its thrilling colors and impressive performance, 'All That Jazz' Itoh peony is a cross of its kind - a mix of herbaceous and tree peonies which features the best qualities of its parentage. The luxurious blooms are fully double and often reach 6 inches across. Each gently fragrant blossom is a work of art displaying unique patterns of pale apricot splashed with magenta and up to 50 flowers may appear on the plant at once. Along with its elegant looks, this shrub is also quick resilient and boasts impressive winter hardiness and a lengthy bloomtime."


Intersectional Peony 'All That Jazz'
This Intersectional Peony 'All That Jazz' is a Don R. Smith hybrid. See my interview with Don here, 2016 Peony Hybridizer Interview - Don R. Smith (This peony was also the month of September in the calendar I received recently, 2020 Intersectional Peony Calendar). I'm hoping this is the correct peony variety. As you can see this intersectional peony came fully grown with 8 stems on it, and it does actually have intersectional peony folaige. There do not appear to be any buds on it. Hopefully I can get it planted quickly so that it may establish itself, get happy, and develop a bud or two for next year!! :-)


Intersectional Peony 'All That Jazz' Stems

2020 Tree Peony 'Renown' Blooms in Week 4 Mid Season!

Tree Peony 'Renown'
Either I don't grow enough tree peonies yet, or this tree peony is really mixed up this year. Tree Peony 'Renown' bloomed for me this year for the first time, with 3 blooms, and it bloomed in Week 4 - Mid Season! I couldn't believe it. I just tried looking it up in the APS database to see what season it is supposed to bloom in, and it didn't say, but it did say this, "Reblooms in July – August" Wow! I had no idea that some tree peonies reliably rebloom! I am very curious to see this. I also checked the Adelman Peony Gardens web site where I originally purchased it, and it says it blooms "midseason". So maybe this is the right time for it to bloom. The tree peony had only 1 stem for me last year (the first year it grew), and this year (the second year of growth) it has 4 stems and 3 blooms! I am just blown away!! I can't wait to see what this one does later in the season and how well it grows next year too!


Tree Peony 'Renown'

Tree Peony 'Renown'

Tree Peony 'Renown'

Tree Peony 'Renown'