That sports some nice variation in color tones. Very nice, LG.

It is so different in color. And I love the form. If I were not already over purchased for this fall I would take a look around for it.

Thanks Tracey and Mary.
I am having a hard time restraining myself this year. It just takes so long to get them blooming nicely. I went to visit a friend's garden on Saturday, and her Bartzella is almost five feet wide. I will have to move a lot of peonies if mine get that huge.

Another friend has 57 buds on her 'Pink Doodle Dandy'. I haven't had that kind of success yet.

First Arrived bloom the first time for me, really loved the color of it.

Yan, that is really beautiful!! Thanks for sharing.

LG, isn't it so hard to wait for them to get that mature???!!!!! I'm so torn--I love sharing peonies with my sisters and friends and I've done a few trades and I'm so happy about both. But then I see pictures of MASSIVE plants with TONS of blooms and SWEAR I'm not dividing peonies that fall! I normally end up doing it, though. It's been a few poor peony years here as well with slow increases in size from year to year here which makes it more frustrating....think I'm resigned to smaller sized plants with the hopes that I'll prevail and we'll only end up a few zones warmer CONUS. I do have more buds this year than I've ever had, actually pinched off several small buds on some new plants. I'm cautiously optimistic about the bloom season, barring crazy hail. We had a storm that hit work yesterday--mostly small hail but with a few golf ball sized ice rocks thrown in. My husband went outside to look at damage after it was over--most vehicles were fine, no damage to either of our vehicles, but the truck directly in front of my husband's had a shattered windshield. I'm sure that didn't make that person's day more pleasant! I'd take a broken windshield over lots of body damage any day, though. Didn't even sprinkle here at home but we're just entering the season.

You've sold me on Joanna Marlene, LG; it's on my "Wanted" list now.

Yan, I've had First Arrival for a few years but it wasn't happy at all where I first planted it. I moved it to a bed that has several successful Itohs last fall so I'm hoping for flowers within the next couple of years! Yours is beautiful, makes me wish I'd planted mine in a better spot from the beginning!

, your FA is gorgeous, Yan! I think it looks much better than Morning Lilac. So sorry to hear about your FA Liz. Hope it will have a few buds for you this year.

Thank you!!! Guys
I loved Itoh peony, I wished mines are big enough to do cut flowers, may be couple more years.

My First Arrival has a single bud on it! Several more Itohs with none but at least I'll see one new (to me!) bloom this spring!

Hillary is blooming today, wasn't too impressed with the flowers, not as double as the pictures online.

Very nice, Yan! How long has Hillary been in the ground? Maybe next year the form will be more double-ish.

Yan, I have read that the double-ness varies from bloom to bloom on the same plant.

Thanks, Nick & LG
It's second years in the ground, had 3 buds this year, maybe the weather has something to do with it too, hopefully next year will be better!!!

I have several Itohs that are beautiful, full foliage plants already but I'm not seeing buds this year, very frustrating. Several with buds, of course, but I WANT THEM ALL!!!!!

NMay said:Wow, stunning flowers everyone. I can't wait until my plants get to the point where they can put on a show like I've seen here.

I hate to interrupt the string of bloom photos, but I just wanted to quickly share my latest acquisition.



I was finally able to get my hands on Caroline Constabel, which I am quite excited to see flower in the future (those dark flares are too good). Unfortunately none of the plants had any visible buds so I guess it's time to play the waiting game. Caroline Constabel was the reason for my trip, but Pink Double Dandy (AKA 'Keiko') and Joanna Marlene found their way home with me as well.

Hi Nick, for 55$ you got yours at a good price!
Compared to here anyways.
The exact same Heritage Perrenials brand plants here cost 69$ Cdn.
Island-priced at the one store that carries them in my area, lol.

Monrovia brand 5-gal Itohs cost $109. Very healthy looking though.

Hello Daisy. Is that so? I've seen them for sale as high as $65 at another garden centre here. There is only one place in Edmonton that carries Monrovia Itohs and they run $150, so you're definitely getting a better deal on those over there!

Liz, I understand your frustration - that was pretty much where I was at last year. Tons of foliage and very large plants but barely any flowers. This year the weather has been cooperative and my third year Itohs are setting tons of buds. Hang in there! Below is a picture of Lollipop that did not have a single bud last summer.

Would love to see your Lollipop in bloom, Nick! That is impressive!

Liz, I think I have same thing here as well - I do not see any buds on both of my second year Smith family Yellow, but the plants are huge!

Alex, I guess we'll be feeling sorry for ourselves together this year if no buds appear, huh? I like seeing all of the healthy looking foliage, though. We can get bad hail storms all through June so I'm not counting on them to stay so pretty!

Nick, your pic from this year definitely gives me hope--there must be over 40 buds on that thing! That'll be amazing, please share the picture when they open!

Nick, that third year Lollipop is impressive! I am eagerly awaiting follow-up bloom photos too.

I am surprised at the price of the Monrovia Itohs over there. Now I don't feel so bad about shelling out for one 'Takara'. It looks very vigorous and I put it in an 18" pot so I'm hopeful for at least a bloom or two next year.