Jerry, after I asked that it occurred to me it would depend on the vigor of the cultivar. Some will need division more often than others. Are there cues you look for, like reduced number of blooms, that let you know it is time to divide? If they're blooming well and healthy, should you divide anyway?

It is just a personal judgement. In my case, I have planted peonies on the spur of the moment then later wished I had looked for a better site. If the clump is healthy and in a good location, there is no compelling reason to divide it.

This one is a prime candidate to be dug and moved this fall. It just does not like its surroundings.

Soils, I agree with Neal. Your pink one is Do Tell.

Neal, I really don't divide my peonies unless I need to move them for some reason. I have a tree peony that I need to move this fall. Mags, have you ever moved at tree peony? I don't like to move my peonies after they are planted and happy, thus I very rarely divide.

Okay, that's what I was thinking- "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" has been my way of thinking. And for years, every time I moved a peony, I broke the spade handle, LOL.

You had me worried. Cora Louise and Julia Rose are my two oldest now (after killing Red Charm). One really wet spring set them back badly but they are coming back slowly with a few blooms each year. Julia Rose was about 5' tall and that big around and covered with blooms. Cora Louise was much shorter but had lots of blooms also. Rather different locations.

Bev and Mackinac Grand continue to be my tallest and sturdiest as to stems. Love both blooms.

I really like your picture of Do Tell. I don't know how I have managed to get past that one without buying it. Maybe next year.

@Dianne,

Thank you for the lovely photos. You garden is really pretty. It complements the house (or the house complements the garden ) I particulalry like the combination of Morning Lilac's magenta flowers and sulphur green euphorbia.

Thanks, Jasmin. I love playing around with different plant combos, though that euphorbia started out as one plant in the back and has reseeded itself all over the front yard. Thank goodness the green goes with everything.

Next up last week were the corals.

Coral Sunset - a nice bright shade of coral



Coral Charm - I like this one so much I have 3 of them. Depending on how much sunlight each plant gets, the shade of coral changes.


And Pink Hawaiian Coral - exactly as the name implies - a combo of pink and coral colors. The stalks are tall and sturdy with no staking needed.

Diann - if you have to move your tree peony, dig a wide berth around the plant and go deep. The tap root is very deep - I went sideways too early in digging my red one out and broke off the main root. It never recovered. I thought it would have have lateral tubers like the herbaceous ones.

My kinkaku is way in the back of my bed and is hidden, but I have been too leery to move it. Let us know if you are successful. It may inspire me to try again.

One more shot of Coral charm - this one is very Coralish as it matures.

Your peonies look wonderful, Dianne. I am amazed that you are able to grow peonies in your zone 9. Can I ask what is the hottest average temp and the coldest average temp in your area?

Your peonies are absolutely perfect, Dianne. I'm anxiously waiting to see what blooms next!

Dianne, your peony blooms are fantastic, I love all the Corals'!

Here are a few bloom pics from yesterday.

Raspberry Charm



My pink noid



Yellow tree peonies




Tree peony Center Stage is barely a foot tall, but is blooming.

Lovely Annette, just lovely. You are two zones warmer than me and now I have peony bloom envy. But soon, it will be us northerners turn.

I am about the last to have blooms except for my fernleaf but all I have is pips showing on a few herbaceous. Patience Mary, Patience.

@Oberon,

I think you and I were the last to have blooms last year. The first pips on a couple of my NOIDs and Blaze have started showing just yesterday. The spring is late overhere. The Forsythias are late; I use them as a reference. I migth be the last to go this year.

The TPs are just forming buds. Rockii might be the first to bloom. I cannot wait to see it. In addition, I had to prune my old High Noon and Hoki. They lost several old branches that were injured last year due to the ice storm; a tree broke and felt on them. I was hoping to save the old branches, but it didn't work. At least I can try to make these two TPs more Asian looking and expose the wood. I wonder if they will have less flowers this year.

Annette, love them all! Raspberry Charm is one I've had my eye one, gorgeous! Interesting to me that tree and herbaceous types are blooming at the same time there. Around here I typically see trees first, then herbaceous, aside from fernies that bloom early, but I don't see around here often.

Speaking of fernies, P.tenuifolia opened her first blooms yesterday. Will get a photo when weather allows.

Thanks Neal! Raspberry Charm is a beautiful peony.

Raspberry Charm with iris Immortality



Blaze, later in the day with the bloom partially closed.


Buckeye Belle


Buckeye Belle, Command Performance and Do Tell to the right in the multi plant pic


Command Performance just starting to open.


Do Tell also just starting to open

How big are the blooms of Command Performance, Annette? I remember the pics you shared of the buds showed them to be ginormous....

Hi Liz, the bud still hasn't fully opened yet. I'll measure it when it does and let you know.

I bought a High Noon TP last weekend for $50. It is about 3 feet tall and had 7 buds. The first bud opened this week. Smells wonderful.





Also, my hybrid TP from Tree Peony Garden opened it's first bloom this week. Enjoy.