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Apr 26, 2015 8:35 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jasmin
Toronto, Ontario (Zone 5b)
Peonies Roses Clematis Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Bee Lover
Cat Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Enjoys or suffers cold winters Region: Canadian Permaculture Garden Ideas: Level 2
As per Oberon's suggestion, I am starting this thread for the peony addicts who live in colder climates. In this way, we will be able to compare the notes.

I live in Toronto, Ontario, US zone 5. Toronto’s climate is modified by its location on the shores of Lake Ontario, and because I live closer to the lake, my garden might be 5b. That is, winters can be a bit milder then in the neighbourhoods farther from the lake. You can find more information on the Toronto temperature zones here:
http://torontogardens.blogspot...

My peonies have just started showing the first signs of growth. The pictures are taken yesterday (April 25, 2015.)

The TPs have started growing perhaps two weeks ago. Rockii Snow Lotus has just started developing the leaves and flower buds. Guardian of the Monastery is a bit more reluctant. In the backyard, High Noon, Hoki and Kinkaku are even further behind. Sighing!

Rockii Snow Lotus
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Guardian of the Monastery
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High Noon
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Hoki
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Kinkaku
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"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."~Albert Einstein
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Apr 26, 2015 9:00 AM CST
Moderator
Name: Liz Best
Columbiana Alabama (Zone 8a)
Annuals Winter Sowing Plant and/or Seed Trader Peonies Lilies Irises
Hummingbirder Dragonflies Dog Lover Daylilies Bee Lover Birds
I'd like to join your group, Jasmin! The eastern plains of Colorado are considered a zone 5. We're at a higher elevation in Elizabeth so are considered zone 4b. I've seen some signs of growth on the vast majority of my peonies now, first ones started popping up toward the end of March. I've had one bloom so far, P. Japonica, but the stem on this tiny plant was damaged by heavy snow so I don't think it'll open any further. This is it's 2nd spring in my yard, planted fall 2013. I took pictures yesterday of every single peony that had a bud on it so far, ended up with 114 in that group. 88 different varieties, 20 NOIDs and 6 duplicates.

Thumb of 2015-04-26/LizinElizabeth/49224d

I only have 2 tree peonies that look like they're going to bloom so far this year, one of three Phoenix Whites

Thumb of 2015-04-26/LizinElizabeth/e97ad5

and Yu Hou Feng Guang, a suffruticosa purchased from Tree Peony Garden last fall.

Thumb of 2015-04-26/LizinElizabeth/88561c

A few of my trees are just starting to show for the season. This one is Cun Song Ying, also from Tree Peony Garden last fall.

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Last is another Phoenix White. This one is in the front yard, one with bud is in back. The one in the front yard did not have any growth at all from the old limbs last year, all from new growth. The flowers from the one in the front were much prettier last year, had a flush of lavender in the middle for the first time ever. I'll be watching that one this year, hoping there will be a repeat! The third is also in the back yard and looks like it might be doing the dying back thing this year.

Thumb of 2015-04-26/LizinElizabeth/79643b
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Apr 26, 2015 9:08 AM CST
Name: Karen
Southeast PA (Zone 6b)
Celebrating Gardening: 2015
Jasmin, what a nice collection of tree peonies! I hope that your Guardian of the Monastery and Snow Lotus will bloom for you this spring. They are on my wanted list! I have heard that Snow Lotus scent is heavenly.

Liz, I am glad to hear your peonies are waking up and sending up buds! I hope your weather will be well-behaved this year and no late frost or freeze. Look forward to see pics of your peony blooms especially some of the new ones that you got last fall.
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Apr 26, 2015 9:10 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jasmin
Toronto, Ontario (Zone 5b)
Peonies Roses Clematis Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Bee Lover
Cat Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Enjoys or suffers cold winters Region: Canadian Permaculture Garden Ideas: Level 2
The garden peonies just starting emerging:

Blaze (planted 2013) was the first one to show up:
Thumb of 2015-04-26/Jasmin/1e14cc

Blush NOID (planted summer 2014)
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Imperial Red NOID (planted 2014)
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This one was bought 2014. It was labeled Festiva Maxima. It hasn't bloomed yet. Aren't these shoots a bit too red for a white peony?
Thumb of 2015-04-26/Jasmin/6c0824

I have Edulis Superba and three more NOIDs that are still below the ground. I know they are alive.
"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."~Albert Einstein
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Apr 26, 2015 9:33 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jasmin
Toronto, Ontario (Zone 5b)
Peonies Roses Clematis Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Bee Lover
Cat Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Enjoys or suffers cold winters Region: Canadian Permaculture Garden Ideas: Level 2
Thank you Kousa. TPs are my absolutely favorite plants. Snow Lotus had only one bloom last year; the one that you see on my profile. The fragrance was lovely. High Noon is also wonderfully fragrant.

My garden is very small and I cannot have more TPs. I also love herbaceous peonies, but I have no space for them. Those that I have were just recently planted as the “groundcover”. I want them to look naturalized. They might not have enough sun, so I'll have to wait to see if this approach (of having peonies as groundcover) will work.

Liz, it’s really useful that we compare our notes. I wanted to get one of those woodland Japonicas like yours, but now, when you told me that they are actually very early, I am not sure that they can thrive in our gardens. Please keep us posted.
"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."~Albert Einstein
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Apr 26, 2015 9:35 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jasmin
Toronto, Ontario (Zone 5b)
Peonies Roses Clematis Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Bee Lover
Cat Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Enjoys or suffers cold winters Region: Canadian Permaculture Garden Ideas: Level 2
Liz, when did you plant your Japonica? I would love to try Japonicas, particulalry because of their colorful seedpods.
"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."~Albert Einstein
Last edited by Jasmin Apr 26, 2015 1:55 PM Icon for preview
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Apr 26, 2015 2:18 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Liz Best
Columbiana Alabama (Zone 8a)
Annuals Winter Sowing Plant and/or Seed Trader Peonies Lilies Irises
Hummingbirder Dragonflies Dog Lover Daylilies Bee Lover Birds
Fall before last, Jasmin. It came up last year and I had a single bloom. It gets quite a bit of shade, under a huge pine so it also has to contend with dry conditions. It didn't increase in size this year, still just had 1 bloom. I planted a 2nd one in a different spot last fall, it's about the same size as the first but no bud this year. It's not in as much shade as the first one. I was hoping for more blooms this year; I'd read that this is one that will reproduce from seed fairly easily so wanted some seedpods!
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Apr 26, 2015 4:12 PM CST
Name: Frank Richards
Clinton, Michigan (Zone 5b)

Hydrangeas Peonies Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant Identifier Garden Ideas: Master Level
Michigan zone 5. All of my peonies are showing life.

Peony 'Illini Warrior' is my tallest peony & it also has the largest buds.

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Peony 'Early Scout' is my earliest...

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Apr 26, 2015 5:25 PM CST
Name: Dora
Calgary (Zone 3a)
Bulbs Winter Sowing Seed Starter Roses Lilies Clematis
Cat Lover Region: Canadian Enjoys or suffers cold winters Garden Ideas: Level 1
Jasmin
"This one was bought 2014. It was labeled Festiva Maxima. It hasn't bloomed yet. Aren't these shoots a bit too red for a white peony? "

I bought that one a couple of weeks ago and it had dark red buds on the root just like that, so not at all.

The only peony which hasn't made an appearance in the garden yet is my fern leaf. It may be buried in too much stuff because I haven't completely cleaned off/dug in the garden yet and I had a lot of peat moss on the roses this year.
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Apr 26, 2015 6:17 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jasmin
Toronto, Ontario (Zone 5b)
Peonies Roses Clematis Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Bee Lover
Cat Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Enjoys or suffers cold winters Region: Canadian Permaculture Garden Ideas: Level 2
Thank you Dora. Interesting. Let's see how our Festiva Maximas will bloom.

Edulis Superba and NOID that I got from an old house showed up today. I also still have two NOIDs that haven't showed up yet. They are both in the same shady and cold spot facing north. These two are also covered by leaves. I protected them really well because it is the coldest spot in the garden.

Obviously, the spring is late overhere. We had a record cold February.and the frost just won't go away.

Frank your peonies are obviously doing great. They have so many buds Hurray!

Liz, I would love to try a couple of Japonicas. I am looking forward to seeing how yours are developing this year.
"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."~Albert Einstein
Last edited by Jasmin Apr 26, 2015 6:20 PM Icon for preview
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Apr 26, 2015 8:30 PM CST
Name: Nick
Edmonton, Canada (Zone 3b)
Great idea for a thread. You can definitely count me in. Looks like everyone is off to a great start.

Although temperatures have dropped to around the freezing mark this weekend, we are supposed to be getting some warmer weather this coming week. Here's my progress:

Fern Leaf (2013) - The root division was so small when I planted it I doubted whether it would make it over the winter. It would be a pleasure to see it bloom this year.
Thumb of 2015-04-27/NMay/99a439


Simply Red (2013) - This was also a small root division when planted.
Thumb of 2015-04-27/NMay/625542


Joker (2014)



Coral Fay (2013)
Thumb of 2015-04-27/NMay/f45558

Impossible Dream (2014) - Very happy to see this one finally show up.



Magical Mystery Tour (2013)


Singing In the Rain (2013)


Tranquil Dove (2014)


Etched Salmon (2014) - I love the foliage colour on this one.


Enduring Rainbow (2014) - Interesting coloured growth on this intersectional.
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Apr 26, 2015 8:36 PM CST
Name: Jason
Gold Bar, Washington (Zone 8b)
Our "Felix Crousse" in its third year...
Thumb of 2015-04-27/riverman123/74cb3b
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Apr 26, 2015 9:08 PM CST
Name: Mary Stella
Chester, VA (Zone 7b)
Dahlias Canning and food preservation Lilies Peonies Permaculture Ponds
Garden Ideas: Level 2
Well, I guess I continue to bring up the rear, so to speak. I only have the tiniest pips showing. Hardly worth taking a picture. Even my fernleaf and Early Scout are tiny pips. Nothing unfurled. But it is less depressing comparing with you all than with the guys down south with peonies blooming all over the place. I will try very hard to scan then import my list of peonies and their current past growth dates. Thanks for starting this thread Jasmine. Hurray! Hurray!
From -60 Alaska to +100 Virginia. Wahoo
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Apr 27, 2015 7:07 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Jasmin
Toronto, Ontario (Zone 5b)
Peonies Roses Clematis Native Plants and Wildflowers Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Bee Lover
Cat Lover Lover of wildlife (Raccoon badge) Enjoys or suffers cold winters Region: Canadian Permaculture Garden Ideas: Level 2
Oberon, I know that feeling; it can be really depressing when the guys down south start showing their peonies Hilarious!

It is not a big difference among us; it is even possible than Nick has more growth in Edmonton (3b) than we here in Toronto (5.) It will be interesting to see if they will all bloom in the same time. It seems as Liz and Frank are ahead of us. Interesting.

I thought that only my peonies are late because of the semi-shade garden, but not. My neighbour has hers in the full sun, but they are still barely showing above the ground. Another neighbour has his peonies totally exposed to the sun and winter, close to the sidewalk, without any protection, but his are kind of bigger. Not a lot though. I wonder if it depends on the strength of the plant. Mine are really small, most of them planted last year. They were even bought like single stem "orphan" plants.
"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."~Albert Einstein
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Apr 27, 2015 10:02 PM CST
Name: Dora
Calgary (Zone 3a)
Bulbs Winter Sowing Seed Starter Roses Lilies Clematis
Cat Lover Region: Canadian Enjoys or suffers cold winters Garden Ideas: Level 1
I've never been able to figure it out. JoannaBananna only lives a kilometer or two away from me cross-country and her fern leaf peony is consistently a couple of weeks ahead of mine. Microclimates are at the root of it I suppose.
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Apr 28, 2015 8:05 AM CST
Name: Caroline Scott
Calgary (Zone 4a)
Bulbs Winter Sowing Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Peonies Lilies Charter ATP Member
Region: Canadian Enjoys or suffers cold winters Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Garden Ideas: Master Level
Mary---you are not the rear!
We are in zone 3, where most peonies are barely visible.
One or two near house (microclimate) are further along.
I will submit pictures when they bloom as many of mine are NOIDS.
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Apr 28, 2015 9:56 AM CST
Name: Mary Stella
Chester, VA (Zone 7b)
Dahlias Canning and food preservation Lilies Peonies Permaculture Ponds
Garden Ideas: Level 2
Here is my list of peonies. A few were new last year so show no history. Or, as in the case of Sweet May, I managed to kill it and have left it in as I want to replace it.
Thumb of 2015-04-28/Oberon46/d3c6cc
From -60 Alaska to +100 Virginia. Wahoo
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Apr 28, 2015 7:54 PM CST
Name: Dora
Calgary (Zone 3a)
Bulbs Winter Sowing Seed Starter Roses Lilies Clematis
Cat Lover Region: Canadian Enjoys or suffers cold winters Garden Ideas: Level 1
I went out and took some pictures this evening - some of them are a bit blurry - they look OK when they're small but when they are full size, not so much. The only one missing is the Festiva Maxima - I planted the root about a week ago and it hasn't come up yet.

P. obovata var. alba - this one has a bud on it. It usually blooms in May.

Thumb of 2015-04-29/dorab/7b962e

P. tenuifolia hybrid? It has single flowers and segmented leaves, but not finely segmented. I forget what they are called. Anyway, I started hardscaping the edge of the bed a couple of weeks ago, and moved it. It seems to have recovered.


Thumb of 2015-04-29/dorab/9d7c63

This is a P. tenufolia plena, or something like that. Finely segmented leaves and double bloom. It was -4C a few nights ago, and I think the leaves got frosted. It was 27C today and will be around 9C tonight. Go figure.


Thumb of 2015-04-29/dorab/ad3761

This is a Mr. GF Hemerick. At least I think that is what it is. I have a label for one in a shoe box in the basement, but it may be for one that I planted in a previous garden and never grew. This one has been growing for about 4 years, and has never flowered. However it seems to like where it is.


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Apr 28, 2015 9:07 PM CST
Moderator
Name: Liz Best
Columbiana Alabama (Zone 8a)
Annuals Winter Sowing Plant and/or Seed Trader Peonies Lilies Irises
Hummingbirder Dragonflies Dog Lover Daylilies Bee Lover Birds
I'm still seeing teeny tiny eyes popping up every few days! Hopefully that will continue and I won't lose any herbaceous this year. I think I lost 2 tiny tree peonies, funny since they've been in their current location for 2 years now. I would've thought that I'd lose them 1st year, not 2nd.....
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Apr 30, 2015 4:54 PM CST
Name: Mary Stella
Chester, VA (Zone 7b)
Dahlias Canning and food preservation Lilies Peonies Permaculture Ponds
Garden Ideas: Level 2
Pink Hawaiin Coral is unfurling a tad. Same with Early Scout. No new pips in several days.
From -60 Alaska to +100 Virginia. Wahoo

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