Peonies…

We are so lucky here in the Northwest to have the ability to grow such gorgeous and showy blooms!  I have been patiently waiting for what seems like months now for my peonies to bloom & last weekend, I found my garden had exploded with color from them…Here are some photo’s of the peonies blooming in my gardens right now!!! 

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Here are photo’s of my peony trees that bloomed over a month ago.  The blooms one the trees are huge!!!!

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Follow these growing tips for beautiful, long-lasting plants and flowers:

  • Planting – just barely below the surface…no more than 2” below the soil.
  • Peonies like sun – when you’re planting be mindful of where you plant them. Don’t place them near trees that will grow and shade them. It’s important to plan ahead since they DON’T like being transplanted; 6-7 foot long roots makes moving them difficult.
  • Peonies like well-drained soil – they don’t like wet feet!
  • Peonies like good food – fertilize them once a year in the spring while they are growing.
  • Peonies like a trim – in the fall (after first frost), you can cut it back to the ground. When the foliage begins turning brown, the plant is finished storing food for next year’s growth. You will get more blooms next year - if you let the foliage die back on it’s own.
  • Peonies like support - stake tall varieties. The heavy blossoms tend to droop toward the ground and will welcome a bit of extra support. A two step ring-type support works great.
  • Peonies don’t mind ants – and neither should you.  Ants sip the nectar from the buds, but do not harm the plant. If you’d like to snip blossoms, clip them before the buds open & gently shake the ants off before bringing indoors.

Thanks for coming over & visiting!  Hope to see you link up later this evening for Cottage Flora Thursday’s!  & please invite your gardening friends to join in the party too! To see where else I may be linking to this week – please check my “Cottage Links” label…xoxo, tracie

PS - Fishtail Cottage is now on Facebook

Comments

Noble Vintage said…
my peonies just finished here in Oregon. so sad to see them gone already, but they were spectacular this year!! you are so lucky to have so many varieties in your yard!
Trisha said…
Thank you so much for those tips! I have one peony plant and plan to get more because I just love them!!

~Trisha
Ido said…
Lovely peonies!, I noticed that you are from Washington State, we are thinking on moving there in the next year or so, we love Washington we just don't know which town or city yet. I will be linking tomorrow for Flora Thursdays. Have a lovely day!
XXX Ido
I love peonies and wish I had the sunny space to grow them. In the meantime I'll just have to look at prett flowers online. :) Great tips!
Becca's Dirt said…
Gorgeous peonies. Wish I could grow them good here. I have one and it hasn't yielded a bloom yet and it is 2 years old.
You have a beautiful collection of peonies! I sure do wish we could grow them down here in So.Cal. But the next best thing that resembles one for us is a rose called Mary rose. She is one of the David Austin roses and does well down here. Thank You for stopping by our garden today......Julian
Ann said…
Mime have come and gone. I simple adore peonies, the smell heavenly. Yours are gorgeous.
NanaDiana said…
Yours are so gorgeous. We are still waiting for ours to bloom in WI. It is really slow for everything this year. xo Diana
Nancy said…
My husband always says, no ants, no bloom for peonies. I think they help along the blooming process?

Gorgeous blooms! Enjoy!
Anonymous said…
I love, love, love peonies! I have a large mature plant of the light pink ones. I bought two new ones this spring. They are white and dark pink. Hoping they do well! Coming back for your party tonight!
I LOVE Peonies!!! and like you I have OODLES of the beauties and LOVE bringing them inside to DAZZLE! Yours are "GORGEOUS"!!! Thank you so much for sharing them with us AND Hosting your party!
Big Hugs,
Donna
Ricki Treleaven said…
I think your peonies are too, too pretty. I love them! My neighbor has a few of them in her front garden, and I admire them every spring when they are in bloom. The pointers are great if I ever plant them.
These are just beautiful, Tracie. I lost all of mine a few years ago due to renovations to our home. I miss them. They were pink and white and huge!! Someday I may plant more!

Thanks for all the great tips and ideas!

XO,
Jane
deborah said…
My peonies have been done blooming now for about two weeks. Thanks for sharing yours. One of my favorites!
Heaven's Walk said…
Oh, wow - Tracie! Your peonies are amazing!!!! I'll bet that your garden smells soooo good right now! :) Yup.....they're my fav!!!!!!

xoox laurie
Thanks for the peony tips Tracie! I'd like to create a peony cutting garden one day!

~Chris
Hi Tracie, Love your peonies too! I'm still waiting for our white ones to bloom. Peonies are just so beautiful.
~ Julie
Marie said…
It's very hard and almost impossible to grow peonies here in SoCal. It might be to hot and dry. So I'm totally just drooling over yours. Omigosh, the colors are so amazing Tracie! Love them! Can you send me some, pleeze?

-Marie
Suffia said…
Gorgeous blooms. How I wish I could have peonies in my garden. You are so lucky. Happy weekend to you.
Unknown said…
No wonder I got only three flower, I never have cut them down in autumn.Thank you.
You have so many and different kinds of peonies, they all look so wonderful.
Diana LaMarre said…
What a beautiful variety of peonies. I so want a pink one. I planted one last year, but no blooms again this year. DARN!

After reading your post, I think it needs more sun. I may try to move it.
Unknown said…
Absolutely beautiful! I love them they are one of my favorites! Thanks for the tips! May have to give them a try.
Victoria said…
Your peonies are fabulous!My mother always grows them too..and they are just sensational!! Beautiful photos ..such eye-candy and awesome info..thankyou!
Victoria
Darla said…
Nothing but eye candy here! Thank you for the information on growing them as I just purchased my first root.
Patty Marker said…
Oh, I have such peony envy. Such a cottage charmer. I have to settle for enjoying your beauties.
deb said…
I adore peopnies but the feeling is not mutual. Mom had some and they smelled heavenly! Thansk for the info maybe I'll give them another try.
Have a great weekend
*hugs*deb
Julie Marie said…
Oh Tracie, your Peonies are just beautiful!... I love that you have sooo many!... and the colors are the prettiest ever... I am joining in your party today, just a small post, but I didn't want to miss it!... xoxo Julie Marie
Lydia said…
Oh, to live where peonies aren't so marginal as they are here. Thank you for sharing.
OK, I know I'm not suppose to envy, but I think I'm suffering from it right now looking at your lovely blooms. Peonies are one of my absolute favorites, and BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I don't have a single bush around my cottage. :(

But yours are absolutely gorgeous, Tracie!

Blessings,
Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the info on the peonies....I just planted one last summer and it's doing very well. Can't wait to get some flowers on it. I'm also a new follower and I am participating for the first time in your blog party. This is a brand new blog for me....and one that will reflect my love of gardening and antiqueing. Hope you can stop by! Lynn
Hi Tracie
You have beautiful colours of peonies. I have one semi-double but the rest all fully ruffled and I like them best. Of course a heavy rain and they're drooping but I started using the really good supports from Lee Valley last year and the drooping is not as bad.
Judith
Rose said…
So many gorgeous peonies! Thank you for the tips--I just planted my first ever peony this spring. I'm hoping I'll see my first blooms next spring.
laxsupermom said…
Beautiful photos! I love peonies, and love bringing them inside each year. Sadly, all the blooms on ours have been spent already. Terrific tips! Thanks for sharing.
Linda said…
Those blooms are wonderful! I'd love to have something like that here...but it's oh too hot and dry in the Summer.
Heidi said…
Wow, what beautiful peony pictures. I've never grown even one peony, I'm not sure if they'd grown in our climate zone. Thanks for visiting my blog today! ~Heidi
Your peonies are gorgeous! Of all the different plants/bushes we have planted in our yard over the past 26 years, I have never grown peonies. I really appreciate your tips!

Delightful stopping by to visit with you!
Unknown said…
Hi Tracie, Love your peonies. They are one of my all time favoite. I missed out on mine but did get to enjoy the very first blooms. Cant wait for next year. So short the season.
Enjoy every day...
~Shirley
I planted peonies from my aprent's yard a long time ago behind my fence. I think I now need to try to transplant them because they are in the shade of my huge lilac tree and did not hardly flower at all this season.
Your sre gorgeous!!

Hugs,
Debbie
My name is Riet said…
Wow your peonies are beautiful.Your garden must be gorgeous.
Becca's Dirt said…
Good and useful information on the peonies. I have one that is three years old now and hasn't bloomed yet. I wish it were in a different location. It is in the full sun garden but gets shaded as the other plants grow up around it. I will move it this fall or spring and if it dies it dies. I intend to buy a couple more anyway and make a special spot for them. Hope you are having a good day Tracie.
JO said…
plants and flowers never liked me... they all die on me except for the chinese bamboo tree.


~ Jo's Precious Thoughts ~
debbie said…
beautiful peonies!!

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