A few years ago I had the privilege ( that's what I call it), to take care of a lady's yard who grew more than 150 different peonies. I took care of her gardens and peonies for quite a few years. During that time I took a lot of photos and learned a lot about peonies. Here are a few pics of peonies in the garden.

L, unfortunately your photos didn't come through. I only load one or two at a time, otherwise it takes to long and errors out.
I'm sure we would love to see your photos with any comments on the ones that do the best.

I change my pictures to the smallest I can in Irfanview and can load five at a time. Just press down control then click on each picture. If they are full size like 3500 x 2600 they won't load or at least not more than one. They take up too much room. Shrinking them is a pain but doesn't materially change the viewing of the picture.

I had always used my 6 MP camera at full resolution resulting in a file size of about 3 Mb and never had a problem sending them one at a time. I recently bought a new Canon 18 MP camera which has a file size of about 7 Mb. I will try it soon to se if there will be a problem. Usually, the problem is with the transmission medium or internet connection which can limit file size.

This pic was taken by a Canon Rebel T-6 set for maximum resolution. 5184 x 3456 pixels with a file size of 9.8 MB. Too cold outside to experiment with setting the lowest resolution for the same quality of picture.


Note: Loaded much slower than the 3 MB files from the older camera.

Tip: Set your camera resolution to the lowest value giving the best quality of picture. Most of the pixels in hi-res cameras are wasted since they are not used for normal sized pictures, only on very large pictures or banners.

Jerry, that is a great photo. Can't wait to see your peony pix this Spring!

This is not a really good test but the camera was set for 3456 x 2304 with a file size of 2.5MB. Just indicates the high resolution settings are not necessary for clear pictures. Now, colors of a blossom may be a different story. Test that in April.


Picture loaded much faster than previously at hi-res.

Jerry, that's why I always used my phone for pictures for social media. It's quite and easy, you can even do a bit editing before you upload. I had Canon 5D mark III with couple lens but I always found myself reach to my phone first, no Wi-Fi is a killer.

Jerry you are going to have fun with that camera!!

Yan, I use my iPhone a lot for pix. On FB they reduce the quality anyway.

I just can't wait for all the peony pictures.

Hi, this is Linda Bradbury from Palmer, Alaska. I'm going to try again to upload some peony photos.

Thanks for the tip on only uploading a few at a time. It worked. Please enjoy my photos.here are the names of the peonies. Candy Stripe, Honey Gold(?) in bud, Sunny Girl, Hilliary, Coral Charm, Garden Treasure, p.lactifolia Pink, Truth, Rubra flora Pleno, wall of peonys in bud, Honey Gold(?) in bloom, Neon, Garden Treasure, Nellie Saylor, Lady Alexander Duff, Myra MacRae, Salmon Glory, Pink Lemonade, Cora Louise, and Bartzella. Every fall I would plant 15-20 new peonies for her, they came from Adelmans or A&D Peonies.

Linda, thank you very much for the pictures! Your peonies are beautiful!

The peonies are beautiful but I particularly love your photos of p. Tenuifolia Rubra Candy Stripes, and Sunny Girl.

I'm so glad you were able to upload the photos. Those peonies are just gorgeous!!
Thanks for sharing.

Linda do you belong to the Alaska Peony Society out in Wasilla? I just sent in to sign up for membership. Do you only grow herbaceous or intersectional? Tried any trees yet?

All the pictures are nice but I especially like the terraced beds and the double fern leaf. Very nice plant. Very hard to get an accurate picture of the blossom. I always had trouble with the edges of the petals flaring a border and the reds would be slightly blurred.

Jerry, not my peonies but my picture The peonies are in the local botanical garden on 06.01.16.

Mary no I don't belong the Alaska Peony Society. In fact I don't have any peonies in my own yard. I do not have enough sun in my yard to grow them. I have a gardening business, this was one of my clients yard. I no longer take care of her yard,but did for many years, and learned so much about growing peonies. She never tried a tree peony. I don't think ther hardy enough for Palmer, but maybe you can try one in Anchorage. I've also heard where you can try in a pot,so it could be brought in, to be wintered over,in a cool spot, like your garage.Well it's National Primrose day. This same lady many primroses too. I think I'll submit some pics. Thanks

Linda, I have grown and had bloom tree peonies. Two in fact here in Anchorage. I am in a small microclimate about a zone 4+ if you will. They were doing really well until a vole infestation stripped their bark (along with a large Crabapple tree and all my azaleas) and killed them all. I volunteer at the ABG in Anchorage and we planted three tree peonies (Chinese and Japanese) in 2015 and they bloomed in 2016. We will see how they fare now that they are moved to the main garden beds. No special care was taken to protect them. But if they have set buds last fall I might keep an eye on them this spring to be sure the frost doesn't blast them early on.