Wow. You can tell it's not hot there like it is here, Charlie! Our weather has turned to summer heat so suddenly. I'm already having to water the plants! I might need to take my vacation up north this year!

Thanks, Karen, Arlene.

Have not had a lot of success with painted daisies, Cinda, but they seem to do very well in just two locations in our garden.
Both locations are sunny and also drain rapidly.

Trollius are quite long-lived in various locations in the garden.
Like the primulas, they probably benefit from being shaded by the taller perennials in July and August.

Actually had to water on several occasions here too, Clint.
During part of May we had something like half the usual rainfall.
Things are better now.

Today.
This bomb-type peony was incorrectly labelled when purchased.
It seems likely it's 'Charlie's White'.

It's very pretty whatever it is Charlie.

Thanks, Karen.

I'm definitely not a white garden person, but do love that peony.

Yesterday.

BEAUTIFUL!

Thanks, Arlene.

Didn't really take to using peonies until close to ten years ago.
Started using then in other peoples gardens first and then latched onto what useful plants they are.
They really contribute to colour in the garden in June here.
Here: mixed perennial gardens (or at least mine) are a bit short on perennials in flower in June.
There seems to be more variety in May or July/ August and the flowerers in September/October also tend to be large plants.

Peonies, with their big blooms, always make us gardeners look so talented.

Certainly true Arlene, though especially the doubles (prone to flopping) can get to look terrible if they're not adequately supported.
Flopping, they can say "lost opportunity" or even "lazy gardener"!

I should probably start to work with peony hoops.

How I wish garden supply companies would make hoops for the huge peonies. Many of us would give them a try and hoops can stay in place all year. I never move mine.

I saw the biggest hoops I have ever seen at one of the nurseries I visited today. I didn't even look at the price because I knew it would be scary.

Thanks for jogging my memory! I recalled one I saw about two years ago at a local nursery and can't recall the price. I just wasn't sure it's the answer some of us need for the giant plants. https://www.google.com/search?...


This Festiva Maxima is over 50 years old, has the largest peony hoop available and still flops.

I should spend time in winter making some kind of cage using wire like this, which worked well for Coral Charm but that's a shorter peony:

Also do a lot of visiting garden centres myself, Karen.

Interesting info/pictures, Arlene.
'Festiva Maxima'; amazing age.

I think the most fragrant of our peonies to bloom so far is another oldie, 'Edulis Superba' (top of the five consecutive pictures above: peony in front).

I saw some of the most gorgeous peonies in one of the garden places today. Cherry Twist just took my breath away. This place is so cool because so much is growing in ground and they dig it for you. The peonies are huge clumps that you purchase now and they dig them for you in fall. Oh the peonies!!

Arlene, that Festiva Maxima is amazing!!!

Karen - that Cherry Twist would have taken my breath away as well. It's gorgeous!
https://www.google.com/search?...
Did you ask about the price? What's the name of the company and do they do mail order?

Thanks, Arlene. It's so lovely, nicely scented and flopping is the only issue with it. It's going out of bloom just as the oldie from a neighbor, comes into bloom but the neighbor's isn't a long lasting one.

Those pictures don't even do it justice, Arlene. I think there must have been at least 14 blooms and it was $40. They dig the whole clump, not just the roots. No they don't do shipping

Thanks. It's a good buy. You'll have a blooming plant right away.

Yesterday.

All so very pretty.