After a few inches of snow and freezing temperatures on last weekend I thought that probably the worst is over, but no, overnight snow and more snow forecast for this weekend as well. It was a mild winter but very nasty spring so far. April is terrible.
You have my sympathy. We could also get dumped on though it looks less and less likely as the days go by. I know it would only be surficial but still depressing to see that white stuff on the ground again. I am sure yours will melt away very quickly and I am sure that the plants are growing regardless. Especially those still beneath the soil
Thanks Mary Stella, I've started this new thread as I noticed that in Peony 2016 are over 600 messages and some of them are directly related to weather and how to deal with it :). It is not only me who is affected and surely the worst is not over yet.
Alex, I think this year is going to be the worst for peonies for me. SOme of my new peonies growths had wilted due to the freeze thaw cycle that has been going on during the last 2 weeks. I think these new growths will probably be goners come this Saturday snow/freeze/wind combo. I hope the TP will be tougher than the herbaceous.
Alex, two peonies that I planted last fall have droopy stems that have not perked up yet. A few of my tree peonies have rather big buds which I don't know will make it with exposure to 9 hours of temps in the low 20's.
Wait until Liz posted her 6 inches of snow pictures! In Toronto great weather so far, peonies are fine and I'll be posting some pic in Northern Peonies 2016 in a few days. I have to chase wabbits from having my tulips for breakfast every morning:)
It just so happens I just took one to reply to a comment on Facebook so here it is! There's probably 20 peonies at least showing signs of growth in this pic, only 3 far enough along to get the pot treatment.
kousa said:Alex, two peonies that I planted last fall have droopy stems that have not perked up yet. A few of my tree peonies have rather big buds which I don't know will make it with exposure to 9 hours of temps in the low 20's.
Karen, almost all my TPs had been have different degrees of damaged from our crazy weather.
I took a look at Cricket Hill Garden. They also suffered damage from the cold. I think everyone who grows tree peonies was hit one way or another. One of my newly planted herbaceous peony suffered wilting stem. Another newly planted one got blackish buds so I guess their buds were blasted by the freeze too.
I wonder if any peony are more freeze-proof than other? Or it has to do with how more developed the buds are? I remember reading somewhere recommendations for northern and southern regions and I guess some doubles like Sarah Bernhardt were suggested for north and singles and semi-doubles like Miss America for south...
I have both. Sarah Bernhardt blooms like crazy while Miss America usually only has one or two blooms but they are really gorgeous. If/when it blooms it is so ephemeral looking. Fading to white with just the touch of pink and a very simple form. I promise to post pics when I get better.
Last year I visited Oshawa peony festival and Miss America was a nice clump with a lot of blooms. After that all I have to ask my daughter for one on Father's Day - luckily one of the nurseries had one.
