Oh my, lots of pretty peonies. ......

Did you find many that you want, LG? I found 3, maybe 4 that I don't have and would like.....think I'll hold off until after Solaris opens their site, though. I might be blowing through my peony $$$ in a single night....

How many peonies do you guys already have?

Ok Littlebin, I may have a slight problem.

I haven't counted, but I have 4 acres, and it isn't full. We had a drought this year, and it was way too hard to dig the holes this year. I told myself I can't order as many as I did this year until I retire. So in 2017 I will TRY to be a bit more restrained.

I only meant that there were a few that I'd like to have, not that I have all except a few. I really don't want to be forced to add several new beds next year to be able to plant my purchases like I did this year so I'm going to try a new to me concept called restraint.....don't know how it'll work out for me but I'm going to try it. I want to limit myself to less than 50 new plants next year. I have over 600 varieties now.

I didn't practice that new concept when looking at Hidden Spring's 2017 catalog--got 12.

Oh wow! 600 varieties. That is a display garden for sure.

I'm starting to scare myself. Let's see if I can keep up with the weeding this spring, wasn't even close last year. No traveling this spring, though!

Littlebin, all I can say is that we are all crazy for peonies!

My god, Liz, your peonies are more than any public gardens and any peony farms! Do you have any blog, or any Flickr folder to share?

APS convention should be hold once in your home :).

LizinElizabeth said:I only meant that there were a few that I'd like to have, not that I have all except a few. I really don't want to be forced to add several new beds next year to be able to plant my purchases like I did this year so I'm going to try a new to me concept called restraint.....don't know how it'll work out for me but I'm going to try it. I want to limit myself to less than 50 new plants next year. I have over 600 varieties now.

I didn't practice that new concept when looking at Hidden Spring's 2017 catalog--got 12.

My 600 or so is a lot but I've met many who have lots more and a lot more than many who know a lot more about peonies than me. I'm lucky enough to have the opportunity to acquire a collection but even more lucky to belong to,this forum; the success I've had with keeping them alive and growing better than ever before is because of their generosity with their knowledge.

I am up there with you Liz as far as individual peonies. It is a full time job keeping up with everything, I applaud you and your accomplishments.
I try to restrain myself every year but it is difficult when they release new items every year and you can't resist.
I too have picked up some great tips from these forums,

stellablue said:I am up there with you Liz as far as individual peonies. It is a full time job keeping up with everything, I applaud you and your accomplishments.

Yes, I often wonder how you do it Liz! Esp. you have a full time job besides your garden. You must have a great deal of energy. Like Craig, I too applaud you and your accomplishments.

stellablue said:
I try to restrain myself every year but it is difficult when they release new items every year and you can't resist.

This is also my problem! Someday I need to force myself to cull some peonies from my collection and add these new ones. That will be a very tough task to do as I think every peony is beautiful in its own way.

I think I'd be cutting back on grass, Karen! And I'm lucky with my work--I've been there long enough and am in a position to make up my own schedule most of the time. Longer hours and fewer days coming up through the spring for me, just enough time to walk the gardens after getting home most of my work days but having 3-4 day weekends every week makes it doable!

And it's not even just new introductions, Craig. I keep an eye out for Saunders, Biggers and Lins as well...My husband asked me jokingly where the new beds will be situated next year and I pointed out a clearing. He THOUGHT I was joking....I'll be starting a lot earlier next spring, though!