I have Scarlet Heaven, got it from a guy on Ebay a few years ago. I didn't handle it incredibly well when it came in, though. It was one of the spring buys and our ground was still unworkable when it came in. I divided it and put it in pots then left it outside in some very bad weather, almost lost the whole thing. It's slowly recovering.

Torch Song is full of buds, I have 3 of them in a cluster.


Misaka is also about to bloom



Sea Shell is also starting to bloom and has over 40 buds.

Wlsdislawa has over 50 buds




Cora Louise has 2 buds


Pastel Splendor has 1 bud


Both Cora Louise and Pastel Splendor were transplanted to the new peony bed last fall. I'm glad they didn't sulk too much.

This is the 2nd spring for Frances Ortegot, planted from a potted plant in 2013, this will be its 1st time blooming.

Liz - in answer to your questions regarding my "First Arrival" - The first flower stalk has 2 side buds, but the subsequent 5 stalks only has one bloom. The flowers starts out the bright yellow and stays bright yellow. The flares - are they the color spots in the center of the bloom? - are reddish.



Morning Lilac bloomed March 26th, "First Arrival" bloomed April 16th - about 3 weeks apart.

I have another yellow ITOH - Garden Treasure - which has not bloomed yet. The so call labelled First Arrival looks a bit like that.
Here is picture of Garden Treasure from last year. It looks like it will bloom next week, so about 2 weeks after First Arrival. The leaves of Garden treasure is a lighter green.



Do you have a guess to to what the "First Arrival" really is?

Thanks!

I am really enjoying everyones beautiful pictures. We are still traveling for another week so I don't know what my Peony are doing yet. Having a great time but can't wait to get back to my gardens and see what is going on.

It looks like Sequestered Sunshine to me, Dianne. The bright yellow with red flares and darker leaves, check it out. It's on the bottom row, middle on this page. http://www.perennials.com/cont...

Liz, I didn't divide any of the roots as I was running low on time and space, but I easily could have as they were massive. Looks like you made out well with Select Plus! Some of my furthest along peonies are about 3 inches tall and Impossible Dream pips are just starting to emerge. I'll take some photos and do an update tomorrow.

Wow Annette, beautiful plants - looks like they're going to put on quite a show. I'm especially looking forward to see your Misaka in bloom.

Liz - Sequestered Sunshine certainly looks like a good possibility! Thanks and it is an interesting name. One of the last projects I was on before retirement was in regards to carbon sequestration and I have never heard that word used in a plant name.

Hi Nick, welcome to the group. You have a sweet list of peonies.

Annette & Dianne, lovely blooms. You guys make me jealous!! Our peonies will start blooming soon (I hope).

A group shot of Santa Fe and friends

Beautiful Celia! The peony bloom is so vibrant, and I love the depth of color in you iris! Which iris is that?

Annette, thanks. Unfortunately, I don't have a name for the iris. I got it from a friend who said it was already there when she moved into her house.

My peonies are mostly in the bud stage. Some are ready to pop and there are others just a few inches of growth.

Double Fernleaf


Hybrid Fernleaf


Mackinac Grand


Nova



Red tree peony Wu Jin Yao Hui

The slow growers are

Huang Jin Lung (Golden Wheels)

Barrington Belle opened this morning.

I am so following your fertilizing routine from now on, Karen! I know we got Nova the same year and yours is HUGE compared to mine! You're going to have a great peony bloom year! Looking forward to seeing your pictures....

Strange to see the difference in fern leaf peonies in approximately the same temp zone. All of mine have been deadheaded or producing seed pods. Some of the singles may produce seeds.

Liz, Nova and Mackinac Grand are doing much better than I thought. They seem to be happy where they are. I have other peonies in the same bed but are not as robust. Salmon Dream is not doing too well. THere was some blackness on the buds. I was not sure whether it was botrytis or winter damage so I had to snip them and sprayed the whole plant with fungicide. So now I am down to only one bud for the bush. May Lilac is currently showing only two buds. How is your May Lilac? It has a beautiful color! I wish it is more vigorous.

I think I lost May Lilac, Karen. It had minimal growth last year and I've seen nothing at all yet this year. I'll wait for a while longer, I still have several varieties that haven't shown up yet that have been reliable in the past, by mid-May I should know for sure.

Mine are all looking good I have buds but no open flowers yet.