Liz, it's never worth the trouble to try to be good. You've come to the right place to be enabled in your addiction

I have a raised bed, 2' across and lined with two rows of 8" bricks. Summer stuff, iris and lilies grow there quite well but peonies absolutely refuse to thrive, if indeed, they even survive. I can't figure out why. It is in full sun, good soil, etc. Like I said the iris and lilies love it. Any suggestions?

Caroline, here are photos of my 'Salmon Glory'. You will love it.


Fading out

The one thing about raised beds is their temperature difference from in-ground plots. They are more likely to be colder in the winter time and warmer in the Spring and Summer. They are subjected to freezing and thawing more so than the ground. In colder climates, I would consider a thick mulch to hold the temperature more constant until the normal thawing time.

Mary Stella, I am not sure if they simply could not overwinter in the bed or declining over long time? Another issue is water + temperature in summer. Irises and lilies could be more drought-resistant than peonies - I am watering my Bartzella and Cora Louise this year because of last year disappointment with flowers - will let you know if it makes any difference. They are planted at driveway near stone curb - raised one. I was wondering as well whether roots were too close to stones and too cold in winter or it was not enough of water - drainage was excessive.

I do mulch heavily in my raised beds, mine are more hill beds than traditional raised, higher in the middle dropping to ground level. I've had some problems at the edges with roots rotting. I haven't noticed the peonies needing any more water than daylilies, lilies or irises planted in the same beds. Mary Stella, I'm beginning to believe that there are some varieties of peonies that just weren't made for my weather. I've given up on a few but only while living in CO! I'll keep a list and start ordering again when we're getting ready to retire and move a bit further south...

Some blooms

Really nice, I especially love the one that is far left in the vase, the huge fluffy one!

Tracey, most of the solid pink ones are 'James Pillow'. His blooms are wonderful, and he has long stems, but flops terribly. I can't remember which peony I took the one with a slight red stripe from. I cut this bouquet Thursday evening for a girl at work who was having a high school graduation party for her son. She said the guests loved them and the vase. The vase came from Marshals. I love that store.
Overhead view.

Does James Pillow smell great? I'm hoping....

Yes, a nice fragrance. He has lots of side buds. One of these Springs I may get bold and remove some. I am going to have to devise something tall to hold him up.

Wonder if he'd lean against a fence nicely. The cages often are not quite tall enough.

Last pic until dig and divide time. My noid from several years still doing great.

Love that colour.

Pink with red flecks. I'd keep that one. It looks like it should be fragrant, is it by chance?

Yes. Mild, pleasant fragrance. The partially opened buds have red stripes visible.

Red Charm open today, this one is a keeper.


All my NOIDs also blooming too






Please help me identify them, if any one had an ideas. Thank you!