2022 Tree Peony Blooms - Week 3

Sometimes you just want to look at the flowers. This week had several tree peonies blooming and one that just smelled so good - the bright pink one, Tree Peony 'Sahohime'. I just couldn't get enough of its scent. Every time I passed by it, I just had to lean in for another sniff! The purple flares on the Tree Peony Paeonia Rockii always impress me. The bright red color of Tree Peony 'Taiyo' almost calls to you from way across the garden, beckoning to come nearer. And who can resist such a full, bountiful double blooms as that of Tree Peony 'Shimanishiki'?


Tree Peony 'Lavender Grace'

Tree Peony Paeonia Rockii

Tree Peony 'Taiyo' 太陽 (The Sun)

Tree Peony 'Sahohime' 佐保姫 (Princess Saho)

Tree Peony 'Shimanishiki' 島錦 (Island Brocade)

2022 Red Tree Peony Broken!

Red Tree Peony with Broken Branch
I have a sneaking suspicion that the squirrels might have had something to do with this broken branch on my red tree peony. They have been pillaging the sunflowers in my bird feeders, digging up (and eating) lots of crocus bulbs (and muscari bulbs) in my garden this spring, and just being a nuiscance in general. They've even dug up some daffodil bulbs (which they supposedly don't like)!


Red Tree Peony Broken Branch
I know things like this (broken tree peony branches) happen from time to time, but this year this red tree peony looked especially good and was growing so well. It even had 5 blooms on it, which is the most blooms it has ever had! Aside from losing the bloom, which already hurts, it kind of feels like this tree peony is losing 20% of it's growing capabilities for the entire year, as there was quite a bit of tree peony foliage broken off with this branch as well.


Red Tree Peony with Broken Branch
My tree peony garden feels like it really has had a rough time getting started. I started collecting tree peonies last (after herbaceous and intersectional peonies), and the only tree peony that I have that is doing stupendous at the moment is Tree Peony 'White Phoenix'. I have been having a really hard time getting so many tree peonies to take. Many of them will grow for 1-3 years, sometimes more, but many of them will peter out after that or never really grow well, and just get smaller each year until they die. (Some of them have even gotten sprayed with weed killer!) I hope this string of bad luck with tree peonies ends soon!


Red Tree Peony Bloom

2022 Second Tree Peony Bloom(s) of the Season!!

We've had quite the cold spell since the 2022 First Tree Peony Bud of the Season! That tree peony ostii with the first bud was the lone tree peony with blooms for about a week and a half, and it has also been dry with no rain. Yesterday we got a big rain, about an inch and a half, with a warm front, and that really did the trick!! Several other tree peonies and one herbaceous peony all burst into bloom on the same day, April 1st! The extra moisture (and especially the warmer weather) really spurred these peonies into action! I love the whites and lavenders of these very early peonies. It is nice to enjoy these delicate, pastel petal colors in the early peony bloom season. 🙂


Tree Peony 'White Pheonix'

Tree Peony 'White Phoenix'

Tree Peony 'White Phoenix'

Tree Peony Paeonii Rockii Lavender

Peony 'Halcyon'

Tree Peony Paeonii Rockii Lavender

Tree Peony Seedling

2022 Intersectional Peony 'Haleigh's Hallelujah' at Local Nursery!

I couldn't really believe it, at first. An Intersectional Peony I've never seen before, for sale at my local nursery!?! I was actually interested in it, but then I saw the price tag $99, and it scared me off. There was also only 1 of this variety, and it looked at little smaller than the other intersectional peonies they were selling. I also didn't see a bloom bud on it. I believe I kept myself at a distance since the price was so high. So I actually left the nursery - Logan's Garden Shop, and went on shopping to see what else was being offered this spring.


Intersectional Peony 'Haleigh's Hallelujah' at Local Nursery
I actually went to Homewood Nursery to see what they were selling this year. I wasn't actually looking for a peony that day, when I found 2022 Peonies at Local Nurseries - Logan's Garden Shop & Homewood Nursery. I was really looking for anemones, the small, short growing single variety, in hot pink, red, and white. I had just seen them growing in nearby Edenton, NC when we took a weekend trip for our anniversary. Those anemones were so bright, and their colors just popped in the early spring garden, blooming with the snowdrops. Alas, I did not find any anemones, but I kept thinking about the Intersectional Peony, 'Haleigh's Hallelujah'...


Intersectional Peony 'Haleigh's Hallelujah' Plant Tag
I figured that no matter which catalog or grower I ordered this plant from, the price would probably be $50-$100 anyway, 2022 Intersectional Peony Catalog Price Comparison List (and actually I've never seen it offered before since I've been doing my intersectional peony price list - way back to 2013!) So even if someone did offer it, the price would likely be closer to $100 since it is still rare. Also you'd have to pay a shipping fee to get it to your house (on top of the price of the root). And - it would be a root, this one is a decent sized plant growing in a large 3 gallon pot!


Intersectional Peony 'Haleigh's Hallelujah'
Anyway, I rationalized my way back to Logan's Plant Shop! Ha Ha! 😃 Luckily, the plant was still there and had not been sold (since it was the only one of that variety). Also when I got back to it, I examined it a bit closer, and it did actually have some bloom buds on it. I was thinking earlier that it did not. I think I wouldn't really let myself get close enough to it to really look at it, since the price tag had scared me off! In the end I was able to purchase my very own Intersectional Peony 'Haleigh's Hallelujah', and I'm very glad I did, as it is actually a peony that was hybridized by my friend Don Smith, who I interviewed in 2016 Peony Hybridizer Interview - Don R. Smith. Intersectional Peony 'Haleigh's Hallelujah', was actually named after Don Smith's daughter - Haleigh!

I can't wait to grow it!!

2022 Peonies at Local Nurseries - Logan's Garden Shop & Homewood Nursery

Peonies at Local Nursery - Logan's Garden Shop
When I went out today to look at a couple of local nurseries, I found several varieties of peonies for sale! If you are looking for a quick way to get a peony started or to get started with peonies, buying a potted peony in spring can be a great way to jump start your collection! If you can find one in bloom or in bud with the color showing - even better! That way you can feel a little more sure of what you're getting.


Peonies at Local Nursery - Homewood Nursery
The peonies I saw today were not in bloom. They were in the stem and foliage growth stage, just the same as the peonies growing in my garden. If you do plan to purchase a potted peony this spring, be sure to get it into the ground as soon as possible before the summer weather arrives and it turns so hot! Any extra time they can get to become acclimated to their new home while the temps are still a little cool will be good.


Intersectional Peonies at Local Nursery - Homewood Nursery
Both of the nurseries I visited, both Logan's Garden Shop & Homewood Nursery were offering both the traditional herbaceous peonies and several intersectional varieties as well. I even saw some pretty new intersectional peony varieties like Intersectional Peony 'Pink Double Dandy' (aka Keiko), Intersectional Peony 'Belle Toulousaine', and Intersectional Peony 'Duchesse de Lorraine'. The prices were in the range of $40 for the herbaceous peony varieties and the range of $90-$120 for the intersectional peony varieties.

Herbaceous Peonies at Local Nursery - Logan's Garden Shop
The prices for these potted peonies are definitely more costly than purchasing a root from a grower, but you are really buying time. If you didn't purchase a peony root last year and plant it last fall (to see it grow this spring), then you'd really have to wait until next year to even see your peony grow if you are planning to buy a bare root this year. Also many bare root peony divisions won't bloom their first year to two, or sometimes they bloom the very first year, then won't bloom for another year or two. They need time to become established. These potted peonies are already established as plants on their own and will likely continue to bloom for you year after year, assuming you plant your peony in a location where it is happy!

Logan's Garden Shop Sale - 20% Peonies when you buy 3 or More -
Logan's even had a sale on peonies today - 20% off when you buy 3 or more! I am so happy to be able to support local family businesses in my area, and I hope you are able to do the same where you live! Buying local means a lot to the local economy, the local stores, the local people who own those businesses, and the local people that work there! So I hope you will Shop Small, Shop Local! and look for local plant nurseries near you (that just might already have their first shipment of peonies in)!!