Just a reminder that the first event starts today. You have to be an APS. Member to attend.
Here is a screenshot of the first events.



I hope to see you online!

Do I need to register to see these online events. LG?

You do have to register through the APS website

You will have to download Zoom, but that didn't take long, and I didn't have to create any kind of user login/password for Zoom.


It's raining here, so it will be a nice way to pass the evening and l arm something!!

Thanks, LG! I will get register for other events to come.

Great seminar! I feel good about going to bat for micropropagated Itohs in the past. Interesting how there is certainly a stigma that surrounds them in the industry. Perhaps the methods in place now were more reliable than in the past, which contributed to that viewpoint.That's a question I regret not asking.

I think that Don made the point that they tried to use roots at first in tissue culture. Now that they are using bud micropropagation they aren't having issues.

I learn so much when I attend these lectures.

They are free to APS members!!

That was my first Zoom meeting, and there were no issues. Easy Peasy.

I missed it though tried not to, was very busy. Was it recorded?

Sorry Anya, they did not record it.

Go and sign up for all the other ones and get your access codes so you won't worry about getting on.

I already signed up for all I am interested in once I received this information. It is just hard to predict what will happen at that particular day and time.

That's what I did too.

I only signed up for the first 2, this is a good reminder to sign up for the rest and mark them on my calendar!

There are two upcoming events this weekend. On Saturday May 15, 2021 at 12 noon CDT you can start uploading your photos for the virtual photo contest! Let's get all those pix out there for everyone to see!

Then on Sunday May 16, 2021 at 10 am CDT there will be a peony hybridizer zoom meeting. Nate Bremer, Don Smith and others will be there for Q & A. I have always learned little interesting facts from these meetings, and I'm sure this one will be interesting.

Zoom is easy to use, and you won't have to use the video feature. They asked us to turn ours off to save bandwidth at the last meeting.

There's a seminar today on cut flower production. I know there is some interest here for this topic.

Open to APS members only and you need to register to get a link to attend.

Could you please share some important points for people who are not members? I am not starting a business, but interested in a flower production in my back yard.

Hi Alex,
I will be taking notes, and hope to share.

Here are some highlights from Michelle Ovan's presentation. BTW, she is very nice, and if you have questions about cut flower production, you could contact her at Ovans Peony Farm.

You cut the flowers in hard bud, not marshmallow stage.

Bundles are in 10's. Put rubber bands below the bud and at the end of the stem.
Long term storage - you do not hydrate and long term means over a week. They are not bundled and just put in buckets with good airflow.

She does not start harvesting until year four and only takes 1/3 of the blooms in year four.

Year six and onward you can take 50% of the blooms. You can even still sell pick your own blooms off of these 50% harvested plants.

You must remove all side buds in the field. You leave one bract of leaves on the stem. She said no singles; semi doubles and doubles preferably with fragrance.

If you sell directly to a wholesaler you will only get one dollar per stem. If you sell directly to brides like she does she charges four dollars per stem. And selling to brides you can make the stems shorter and that is better for your plants. 14-16 inches for brides.

There are chemicals for hydration and it's important that the solution be at a 3.5 pH.

She uses something called a cool bot for her cooler.

She said corals were not good for cut flowers because they change colors in the cooler and open too quickly.

It was a really good presentation, and I really enjoyed learning more about peonies.

Thanks for sharing LG very interesting although I am not into cut flowers it's good too know,

Thanks LG! Interesting about the % of harvesting!

Glad y'all got something out of this. And thank you for the acorns.

I forgot to add that she pre-sells her yearly crop and is normally sold out by March.

LG, yes information is very interesting. She did that presentation for our local peony society and recently had time to talk with her one on one about her farm and the cut flower ways. I will say it prompted me to bring some peonies inside this year and I really loved that.