I saw this at a Iris farm this spring and was kicking myself for not looking into getting these sooner.
Are the iris in the photo Siberian Iris? I'm planting some peonies and like the effect with this combination.

Yes....lovely photo

Thanks for the ID. It is too late to plant them now, right?

I'm not an expert on Sibs......Polly is in NY and knows them so she could help.

Hi Julia, I'd sat it's not too late to plant now. At least I move siberian iris at this time of year, that's rooted plants dirt and all.

Julia and I talked, and Evan is right as always. I don't think it's ever too late to plant sibs, unless maybe you live in the middle of Alaska. I had one a few years ago I was dividing on New Years Eve, with the help of my daughter. Got most of it replanted, almost 100 divisions, and it started to snow, so I just threw the rest on the ground. They were perfectly fine the next spring.

The only problem with planting late is you might not get as much bloom the following year.

Julia, I would suggest you get an early- mid blooming peony to get the combo you want, or a very late blooming sib. Or you could just go to the iris farm and see them together and get them. It's a wonderful combo.

My trading partner just sent me a peony Dancing Butterflies, and says it's a very early one that blooms with the tall bearded. I can't wait!

Julia, look through her album, and I think you'll find some inspiration for peonies and irises.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1...

Ah, found the Dancing Butterflies

https://picasaweb.google.com/1...

Really beautiful combos Polly and for the record it was your advice a few years ago that clued me into moving the beardless into October. I have quite a few potted sibs from Dee's Snowpeak clump sale which will be taking the places of tender perennial tubers I've been lifting. Several potted JI as well. I'll definitely have to work some more peony in there.

Also what goes really well with JIs is astilbes. Both can take a little shade. Peonies are so wonderful, so it's a good idea to work them in now, Evan. Can't wait to see pics!

OK. Sounds like a short trip is in order as there's a decent nursery not too far away that usually has a good selection of peony. I need to get some of the monster astilbe like Jo Ann grows, to work in. White and pink, just cant remember the names.

I was freaking out last week because it looked like some of Dee's iris I had potted weren't doing well. All varieties had to go into multiple pots there were so many of each, but several were browning up. Ally Oops and the versi and a sib. I planted those first and the soil balls held together! I was going to separate the rhizomes but with all the new root growth they went in as is. Amazing!

Thanks Polly for posting the link. The peonies I'm getting are May/June bloom time so I think the Sibs I will be getting will work in perfectly. If not, I can make changes next fall. LOL

Did you see Dana had some peonies he had crossed for sale, Julia? And he won't sell them on the internet. My daughter bought a couple three years ago, and they are gorgeous. Hope you'll go with Jo and I next year. I brought my digger person/grandson this year, and it worked out well. Dana's dirt is like rock.

I will definitely try to go when you both go next year. Hopefully, the ground is much softer than this year. It was a tough spring.

I was so busy being mesmerized by the fields of iris and only took a few minutes to go around the back and see all the other garden flowers and take the pictures. I definitely want to spend more time next year looking at the peonies. The photo I posted was from their garden.

Great!

Polly you will have to get a really full peony next year from Dana

D

For you, Dee? I have tons of peonies.

I see that the Siberian Iris I planted last fall are coming up. I did find I messed up on the planting of them in front of the peonies I thought they would look best with. I bought Caesar's Brother to go with Duchesse de Nemours and Butter and Sugar to go with Raspberry Sundae but noticed I reversed them. All are suppose to bloom around the same time so I guess it is a waiting game to see what actually blooms.

Polly: Have you heard when Borglum's is opening for the season?

The peony was the first flower that I can remember from my childhood. My grandmother had one and I go outside to see that beautiful white ball of fluff and the smell was intoxicating. Of course I had no idea what it was then, but I knew I loved it.

I have a hard time getting them to bloom here. We have the freeze, then the 75 degree days for a week and then the freeze again and this about always kills my blooms. I even noticed that a beautiful hot pink that I had for years didn't come up this year. That's sad.

I love peonies. I did see I have a white one that has buds this year, but it'll be several weeks before it blooms. I have that to enjoy.

I have a large bed that contains about 20 mature peonies and lots of iris. I would like to just dig everything and completely redo the bed. The iris would be easier and forgiving......the peonies not so much.