Just think, roughly 60 days until the first fern leaf activity should be seen. This fall and early winter has been ideal for new roots to form and draw nutrients from the soil. We are expecting several subfreezing nights to keep the soil chilled. Nice thing about gardening is we do not have time to become depressed with life. We are usually too busy and always have something to look forward to with the changing seasons.

Agreed, Jerry. Always something to look forward to in the garden. Just hoping for a less hot summer here than last year. And not to be too picky, but a little more rain would be good too.

Yes, I agree there is always magic happening in a garden----even in
the "dead" of winter. It is a time of anticipation.

I can't believe that I'm going to say that I'm happy about this earlier, colder winter, but I am. The peony tubers are getting nicely chilled, so hopefully we'll have a nice bloom season next year. I added six new plants late this fall, and they all seem to be doing fine. The older and newer plants have pips that are increasing in size already. I have one fern leaf Merry Mayshine, and I hope it does well next year.

Annette

We are having ideal peony weather here. 20s at night and 30s during the days with a week of snow cover. All my fern leaf peonies are in 8 inch raised beds with sandy soil fill so the coming rains should not be a problem. Hard to be patient but they will come out in due time.

We've been in the low 30's at night here, and in the 40-50's during the daytime. I really am enjoying this cooler weather. We've also been getting more rains here, but no snow. Here's my peony Lois' Choice that was planted in December.

I would not take much for that baby to begin to grow. I think the most common problem in the warm Southeast is lack of cold temps. They really like a cold winter.

We're fortunate to get enough cold weather for the peonies to do well here. I first fell in love with them when I received them in a vase as a birthday gift from my mother several years ago. I started off growing herbaceous peonies, and a tree peony Shojuraku, and I've now added a few Itohs, and other tree peonies. They are a joy to watch blooming. Annette

We would like to see pictures when they bloom! Please!

Definitely, I'll be happy to post them.

Here in Upstate NY we've had several hefty snowfalls already this winter. Suppose to get more snow again tomorrow but only a couple of inches this time. I'm glad everything is under a bed of snow this year. Can't wait to see how the new peonies I planted in the fall will do. Only a couple more months before spring arrives again.

We got our first frost here late December. Just after the New Year, we got 3 days of 28 degrees - which is unusually cold for us. But, as I have lots of peonies in the ground, I am thrilled whenever we get frost warnings. However, my poor brugmansias are looking sad. Was finally taking out the last of the tomatoes and ended up stepping on one of my poor peonies - did not notice the pips poking out of the ground. I placed a few branches around it to mark that spot to remind me to watch my step.

This is a potted peony I am using for an experiment. It was a small root with a single eye included as part of an order for Gay Paree. I want to keep it potted for 2 seasons in order for it to develop strong roots and hopefully a few more eyes. Blooming or not is not an issue. I have the main root section planted in a permanent location.

Oldgardenrose said:This is a potted peony I am using for an experiment. It was a small root with a single eye included as part of an order for Gay Paree. I want to keep it potted for 2 seasons in order for it to develop strong roots and hopefully a few more eyes. Blooming or not is not an issue. I have the main root section planted in a permanent location.

Where are you keeping the pot? In the ground outside or somewhere else?

It is in a 17 qt pot with holes drilled into the bottom and sides for ventilation. I have it in an unheated garage but it has not been really cold yet. I did the same thing about 3 years ago with some irises and had blooms nearly a month before the normal period. I move the pots outside during warm, sunny spring days and return them to the garage at night when it may freeze outside. It also works with roses but this is my first try with a peony.

This is a pic of my potted Gay Paree taken today. Since it wanted to sprout anyway, I placed it on top of a tool cabinet with a small grow light above it. I will be taking pics once per week to chart the growth. The thermometer above it indicates about 39° so it should be receiving its required chill.

Looking forward to the progress pics.

Thanks for posting the progress pictures.

Pic taken today, one week since the last one.