I'm sorry, it produced some seed that I share with my local peony club as well as plant out myself. Currently I have no extra, but the American peony society has a wonderful selection of seeds available for a very low price on their website. You might start there.

So what was your 5th favorite, Karen?

Can't decide on the fifth. It will have to be a tied between Alexander Woollcott, Hilary, and Magic Mystery Tour. I have a soft spot for AW, you probably know. AW always looks good even when the plant is not happy. The blooms are always perfect semidouble with a gorgeous red color, never a deformed flower or a petal out of place. Hillary and MMT are new blooms for me this year and they have great potential for next year. So I really look forward to see them again, hopefully the size will be bigger and colors more intense.

Alexander Woollcott


Hilary


Magic Mystery Tour

Karen, Alexander Woollcott might do well here, as it is an Early. Have to think about trying that one. May I import your photograph of that plant to the database?

Yes, sure. I don't know how to do that, putting a photo in the plant's database.

If you want to grow AW, plant it somewhere it gets sun in the early spring and in filtered shade while it is blooming like under a deciduous tree. It likes to be in the shade during the summer. I had it moved several times until it is happy in its present location, 10 ft from my Honeylocust tree where it gets filtered shade under one of the tree's branch. It has no problem handling root competition. I don't know how it will do for you but it does not like it hot (upper 80's) while it is blooming. The flowers would wither very quickly like in 3 days. If you have a cool spring, the flowers can last a week on the bush.

From a posted thread, you would click on the photograph. At the bottom of the image is a link that says Import to Database. When you click on that link, it asks to what plant does the image belong. Type in the name, enter, and it should come up with that plant in the database. Select the plant, then you will see a menu of what type photograph it is: entire plant, stems, buds, blooms, etc. Select the classification you want, then the image is submitted for a moderator to approve. The person who posted the photograph (you in this case) should get an acorn for the photograph. Two, actually, here, because it is the first photograph for that plant entry.

All my plants have afternoon shade. Sounds like Woollcott might need a bit more shade than the other Peonies get. Thank you for that information, I will keep it in mind if I decide to try the plant.

That would be a hard choice, Karen! AW is a perfect red. It'll be really stunning in a couple of years when it's a huge shrub with tons of flowers! The Itohs are always wonderful, too--especially the ones that have side buds. It's like having 3 or 4 different bloom colors at once....

The only noticeable peony I have, with the exception of the fern leafs, is Lavon. Several other nice ones but this is my best.

I really like the look of that one. It looks even better than pictures I have seen. Very nice!

Like that one, Jerry.

That is gorgeous peony, Jerry! I love the different layers of colors and shapes of the petals and petaloids. Like Tracey, I too have seen pics of Lavon before but none looks as nice as yours. How big is the flower? I see that you were holding it up but is it normally floppy?

It does have relatively thin stems and needs support if it is exposed to rain which all Spring peonies are. I think most of the older peonies are about the same as far as foliage is concerned. The flowers are probably 6 inches or more in diameter, especially if the small side buds are removed. That is the best way to obtain larger flowers.

It is not as old as I had thought. Many of the fragrant peonies are old cultivars. I purchased mine from a co-op in 2010 through Hollingsworth.
http://peonyparadise.com/lavon...

Wasn't that one named after his wife? And I agree with Tracey and Karen, I think you've sold more peonies here with your pictures than the big growers do with their pics! Beautiful flower!

He's not the only one to sell peonies here there are several of you who have surprised me with pictures, of peonies I had never considered....until now.... Due to your lovely pics. Know how much your pictures and reports from your area are appreciated.

The really surprising thing about peony vendors is they do not present their products in the best light. My camera is an 8 year old 6 meg point & shoot and I have no special talent. Think of how the catalogs would look with professional grade equipment and trained photographers. I learned a few major iris vendors just buy stock photos from people who likely as not have pirated them from gardeners.

I agree, Tracey! Pictures from other gardeners and their opinions count so much more, don't they?