If anyone is looking for a cheaper version of umbrellas to protect tree peony blooms, you should consider getting a beach umbrella from Costco. Granted that it is not as nice as the ones sold by Cricket Hill, it serves its purpose. I bought one to try and I may get 2 more. It is sold for $25 at Costco.

kousa..Karen... hey whatever works. I have been known to do the same using tarps, umbrellas ....hey ya gotta get creative when it comes to protecting our plants.👍

I'm thinking of getting a rain umbrella, 40-inch at Lowe's for $4. That's 3 feet and more.

Karen I bought some from IKEA 15$ two years ago,

I thought I got a good deal but wow, you guys did whole lot better. I have to check out the ones at Ikea, thanks Oscar. Socal, thanks for the tip but 40" is a bit small for my need.

I didn't find any at Lowe's either.

This is what's up to shade a area in my garden today... had to set up cover for shade it was 79' today. A real heat wave for the Oregon mountains. The winter winds took a shade tree in this area down last year. Now it's time to get creative, greenhouse shade cloth and reclaimed umbrellas from a garage sale came in handy.

Protecting hydrangeas from hot afternoon sun.

Covering dwarf maple tree from afternoon sun.

Good idea, Bea.

My question is to those who use these is how do you keep them from blowing away?

Mieko2 , How do ya keep from them from blowing away ? Some umbrellas have a weighted bottom filled with sand or water to place them in. Others fit in a heavy table, or stake in the ground , or in my case I have wired them and the shade cloth to a tree or anything else that holds it in place. Not fun climbing up on the roof to retrieve one. They take off like a rocket in winds.

I have been known to shade hostas and pounded in a T-post and attached the umbrella to it. If you have access to cedar rails they can be used to 'cover' the metal T-post even when the brolly is put away for the season - then it doesn't look ugly.

The upside to T posts work well for holding coverings down for protection from weather for plants.
Also prop magnetic cameras on top of them around the property. Tricky to get t poles thru the clay. Using a root water feeder dealy helps to soak the holes then the posts are easier to sink. Downside..To remove
t posts I need the tractor bucket and chain to pull them out..

Thank you all! I am going to get one and try it.

That was going to be my question too, LG! My umbrella blew all over the place during the windy night after I used it to shade from the rain. Next time, I will tie it to my deck and/or t posts.

bumplbea said:This is what's up to shade a area in my garden today... had to set up cover for shade it was 79' today. A real heat wave for the Oregon mountains. The winter winds took a shade tree in this area down last year. Now it's time to get creative, greenhouse shade cloth and reclaimed umbrellas from a garage sale came in handy.

Protecting hydrangeas from hot afternoon sun.

Covering dwarf maple tree from afternoon sun.

Your garden is so beautiful, Bea! What is that white covering used for the maple tree?

And if you get a red one it'll attract more hummingbirds to your garden....win! I actually have a boring patio table umbrella that I was going to leave behind, now I think I'll take it! Might come in handy!
We'll have to start a competition for finding the best cost/sq ft of umbrella for peony protection, I'll donate 5 acorns for a prize for the winner! Off to check out the Big Lots website...