Thanks LG. Too much travel this spring, feels like I'm behind on everything! I'm ready to relax and enjoy the blooms!

I am wondering at the name of that beautiful pink one which you say is Plena Alba?
I would think Plena Alba to be white?

Wow, love your Commando and Astarte, Liz! Can I ask you where you got your Commando? I bought one from Bannister Garden last year and this year it bloomed a semidouble hot pink. I was so looking forward to the red Commando but unfortunately it turned out to be a mislabel. I think Astarte is a very nice peony. I wonder why it is not as popular or well known as other peonies of Saunders. Looks like you are in your early midseason bloom period so you probably have a lot more peonies blooming later. Does your Pastelegance have any buds this year?

Some blooms from Alberta:



And Athena planted last fall has a bloom:

Lovery Commando, Liz. Your Astarte looks like my "CDL".
Caroline, I though Athena is more beige/yellowish than white. Does it have something to do with weather?

kousa said:Wow, love your Commando and Astarte, Liz! Can I ask you where you got your Commando? I bought one from Bannister Garden last year and this year it bloomed a semidouble hot pink. I was so looking forward to the red Commando but unfortunately it turned out to be a mislabel. I think Astarte is a very nice peony. I wonder why it is not as popular or well known as other peonies of Saunders. Looks like you are in your early midseason bloom period so you probably have a lot more peonies blooming later. Does your Pastelegance have any buds this year?

Karen, I got the same bloom with my Commando from Bannister. I have 60 % right and 40 % wrong labels on everything that bloomed. ):

Same here Lily! Another mislabel from the Bannister Garden peonies that I got was Princesss Margaret. It bloomed the same hot pink semidouble as my Commando. I have two other ones that did not bloom so I could not find out whether they are mislabels too. You are right, it is about 60% correct and 40% not.

I just visited Oshawa Peony festival today ( prior to opening this weekend ) and noticed one peony standing out - the tag was lost - so my question is - is it Bess Bockstoce / Rose heart one or something different? I was in the hurry and very often my camera captured red is not right.



Cherry Raffles was an interesting one as well.



I noticed Lowell Thomas for extraordinary foliage, but flowers were not opened yet.



Overall I was late for a week for right viewing....

Caroline, you're correct, I labeled it wrong. The pink double is Mutablis Plena, not Plena Alba. I have what was sold as Plena Alba in the same area but it's never bloomed.

Karen, I got Commando from Adelman's fall 2014, this is the first time it's bloomed for me. The color is great but the first bloom is tiny, expect it to get bigger and better! Pastelegence does have a bud but only one..I think what I have as Astarte is pretty but it's supposed to be a pinkish blush, not a yellow from what I can tell. Got it from GW so who knows?

Alex, that looks like my Rose Heart, fading from the edges. Mine hasn't opened yet, soon! And the one I was sent as Astarte has a much bigger yellow middle than my CDL and is a brighter yellow.

Athena is white, I think, but mature flowers will have markings in center.
I got the root from D'Auost so I am confident this is it.
It is only the first bloom.

Peony season is over for me here. My last one that bloomed was Marie Lemoine (one critter- eaten flower so no photos of that one).

I started the spring season with five herbaceous peonies and now have several new ones including Itohs and tree peonies. More coming this fall too (ordered on line) so hopefully I can contribute more next year to similar threads.

This particular no ID peony was the first to bloom on May 2 (it's in dappled shade and came with the lot). Except for being scent-less it's a great specimen--

Peony season is just beginning here. Tree peony 'Yaezakura' is blooming today and just beginning to open is Yellow King.






Paeonia lactiflora 'Yellow King'
This one isn't yet in NGA's database, but once it is fully opened and I photograph it, I will submit it to be added to the database.

Valerie, those are very nice.

I have a red double NOID that looks like yours, Daisy! Love the flower, one of my best performers regardless of name!

Same ones, new pics. Overnight rain made a mess with peonies in other gardens, but those ! are just fine




I have no luck in taking good pic of the whole Bartzella clump, may be once most of the buds are open.



My white/blush NOID is certainly taking taking time to open - the buds started to loose at the same time as Red Charm and RC is gone a week ago...

Everyone's blooms are so lovely! It's so nice to see the northern peony blooms at this time of year!

Liz, I'm thrilled you've had a better peony season this year!

Just returned from Houston to find that Roselette is all bloomed out. Only saw the first one. Early scout has first two blooms ever and almost missed that. Athena is in full bloom as well as fern leaf whic is about done. Will take pics today when they open. I walked the garden a around 1AM when I arrived. Peonies are doing exceptionally well at least the older ones. Will be moving several this fall replacing no performing other perennials to have a more 'specimen' look. Need more coffee!! Still under the weather from terrible cold caught while traveling

Feel better Mary Stella. Being sick while traveling is a big bummer. Coming home to blooming peonies is nice though.

I could not take a good overall picture of Bartzella with my camera, but individual flowers color is much better. 20 buds this year. The one I cut is 7 inches across. Also, this year Itoh fragrance is much more to my liking - Bartzella has lemony flavor at last.



Cora Louise



White/blush NOID



All flowers on OF and ES are still there, but we are expecting rain on Wed...
Florence Nicholls to open in the next few days.

Beautiful photos, Alex. Keep them coming.