Last fall I took a bunch of peony roots and a few irises to our eventual retirement location in AL. Jeff (hubby) and I cleared brambles and scrub oak from a small area and planted everything then just let Mother Nature have her way with them. Didn't go back until 2 weeks ago, here's what we found when we visited again!
Abalone Pearl, Aerie and Amberglow

Athena, British Beauty and Candy Heart

Cherry Luau, Cherry Pie (tree) and Denise

Ethel Mars, Festiva Maxima and Heidi

Kelway's Rosemary, Lois Klehm and Magical Mystery Tour

May Apple, Mme Jules Dessert and P Off Alba Plena

Postillion, Roseheart and Roselette

Shimanishiki (tree) and Sweet Marjorie


Some were just barely above ground but all were visible, maybe not every one can be seen in it's photo, though! The only ones that hadn't broken ground were Topeka Statue, Cavatina, Garden Treasure and a scarlet NOID, hope they'll make it up as well but I probably won't see it.

They look great and even with buds. Appears that the warmer zone has no effect on their growth so far.

Thanks Karen! No negative impact for the 1st spring, anyway! I was very happy to see buds on both tree peonies and several of the herbaceous. Had to look very hard to find growth on Magical Mystery Tour for an indication on the Itohs; it was up but just barely. The only one that might have been lost is Cavatina; it's a Saunder's peony so I expected it to be up already. It was new to my garden last fall, the root was large enough to split so I planted it here in CO as well so I have a backup, just in case! The true test it to see how they weather the summer, the heat and humidity might take a toll that the milder winter didn't. Got them off to a good start with a mix of BulbTone and Azomite in the planting holes.

With the different in blooming time for AL and CO, you get to enjoy two peony blooming seasons a year, Liz! Wow, that is so awesome! How far in time apart do you think? Will one end and the other picks up right away?

Hard to say since they were just planted last fall but I'd bet it'll be pretty close to the same as Annette's and LG's bloom times. Better to judge by next year when they've been in the ground for a while. If I remember correctly they are pretty much at the end of their season when my earlies start blooming around the 1st of June. AL might be a bit earlier--know the tree peonies were blooming at the Birmingham Botanical Garden when we were there mid March last year and I think we'll be on that same timeline.
Fertilizing here in CO today, my earliest are breaking ground with the most advanced just pushing through the mulch. Have gone through 2 2/3 18 lb bags of BulbTone so far and just ordered 3 more to make absolutely sure I can finish--haven't touched the newest beds and there are easily 400 + plants back there. They wake up last so it'll be fine to let them wait another week or 2. I am beat!

Liz, your new peonies look great! I hope they will establish and bloom every year.

With so much snow this year I will see the ground probably in a month, and then everything in the garden should be done at the same time!

I'm glad you have posted the pictures, Liz! They all look great.

This will be great for you whenever you move there you will already have some well established Peonies!

I think your bloom times will be closer to Annette's rather than mine.
I bloom from the first week or so of April until the end of May. I cannot recall having peonies blooming in June. I avoid buying any Peony that has "very late" in its description.

Wow, that's a lot of fertilizing, Liz! Do you fertilize all of your peonies? Or do you just fertilize the ones that you think may need it? Does anyone fertilize after blooming? What is your experience and observation with that practice? Do you think it adds more blooms?

Liz, I agree, your peonies in AL look great! What zone are you in there?

I'm trying to fertilize all of them this year, Karen. I always say I'll do it again in the summer but never have, do manage to throw down some in the fall when I'm cutting them back but that's probably wasted since it's so close to dormancy....

Annette, it's supposed to be a zone 8a, just 20 miles south of Birmingham.

Hi there,
I've been using Azomite for a long time and came across this product that has the same benefits of Azomite (70 minerals) plus the benefits of greensand. It is a 2 in 1 product and I think it is very good stuff.
If you are curious like me, let's give it a try. I found it on Amazon: Super Greensand

Welcome justin! Have you used this product on peonies?

Thanks Justin. I have used azomite for years. Also promote from lowes. Will give greensand a try. Local nursery sells it. And welcome

I have always read, fertilize when you first see the plants break the ground, right after blooming and after you cut back in the fall. I try to follow this regimen.

Mieko2 said:Welcome justin! Have you used this product on peonies?

Hello Mike, I have't use this product on peonies, but I used Azomite for a long time on my garden and now I am testing this Super Greensand

Just came across this pic that Jeff took when we were last in AL. This pic is looking from the road to the lake across what will eventually be my garden shed and beds. Can't tell perspective from the pic but it's at least 500 yards from the slightly flat spot where the shed will be down the slight slope to the water. There is a small point jutting out to the water, eventually I'll have a pergola with a ceiling fan sitting there with non-stop gardens between it and my shed! The small, experimental garden is actually just to the right of that point. A small draw runs pretty much the length of the property with varying amounts of water running down to the lake, the inlet from that is between that point and the experimental garden.
It all looks a mess now with all of the pines removed but it'll eventually be pretty (I pray!). We'll be out there planting the first of the deciduous trees that will replace most of the pines in March, hopefully I'll have some new experimental garden pics to show then!

Same pic, I just marked the spot of the experimental garden with a white scribbled circle, if you zoom in you can see the white posts I used to encircle the plantings. Nothing above ground showing when this was taken, anyway—I cut everything back the visit before.

Really great view, Liz!

It's going to be amazing Liz!!

Great view and wonderful plan!