That IS HUGE! For 10 roots? I think 10 mature plants would fit in that sized box...I got a tracking notice from A&D and Solaris today so most of my orders will be in over the weekend (I hope!) Havent heard from Adelman's or Hollingsworths yet, those should be the last. I need to pick up more bags of top soil and compost to mix in with the existing soil--don't want to raise the level much at this point but do want to give them something good to grow in.
Mary, I actually used landscape pins to hold the cardboard down and in place. I used newspaper on top of the soil but under mulch--then the turkeys dug through the mulch and shredded newspaper all over the garden--looked like a landfill....darned birds.
Lily, I will post some pics of those from Homestead Farms--hoping they'll have nice roots, prices are good.

I would have turkey hash very shortly. lol. I don't know how I got the dimensions so wrong. The box was only about 24x10x6. Roots looked okay although they are sort of purplish. Not what I am used to but Will said maybe it had to do with the soil over there. We (Will and I) spent today moving stuff around in the botanical garden. He dig up several peonies that were being overshadowded by other plants and not doing well. And he took out some perennials that we have bunches of to pitch. So we planted and/or moved around about 20 peonies. They look really good now. With lots of southern exposure and breathing room. He and another fellow will be putting the new roots in large planted pots and burying them in the gardens also. The ones we put in pots last fall had massive clumps of feeder roots on them. Amazing. I told him that he should do the same mix he used last year (need to dig out my notes on the proportions) even if the pots go into the gardens rather than the research beds. I figure it would give these new roots a head start on growth before going right into our ground.

Oh, they all came from Adelmans and four rotted. I took pictures to show they were all planted identically, pictures of the massive root balls on three (including one tree peony). All the others thrived so I am hoping she will replace the ones that rotted. They never did anything. The original roots were just like they had been planted, only rotten.

Info for those who ordered from HSFF.
https://www.hiddenspringsflowe...

Thanks so much Jerry. I was wondering where they were. Since I am in a zone 3 (four actually) I should see mine any day. We got our shipment from Holland this morning. Spent the day at the botanical garden playing musical chairs with existing peonies that needed moving and moving 10 from the research beds out into the regular beds. Including three tree peonies. Our test cases to see if a zone 3 will allow tree peonies to survive and bloom. They made it through last winter and bloomed this spring. I was ecstatic. But it was a very warm winter. We will see what happens next spring.

Oh, Liz. I received my Adelman's shipment over a week ago. Yours should be arriving any day.

Just got a tracking number notice on my Adelman's order--it's 33 pounds! I ordered some tree peonies for my sister as well so it's like 2 people's orders, I'll be repacking part of it and sending them to her, but still--33 pounds of peony roots! Haven't looked at all of the Homestead Farms peonies but I did look at the one on top of the box. America's root is as long as my forearm and I'm NOT a petite person, and it has 8 large eyes. It has 2 large feeder roots and the biggest one is as big around as my wrist as well. If the rest look like that I'm going to be a very happy person! I'll take pictures before I plant them in the morning.

Glad to hear Homestead Farms sent out very nice roots. I hope to order from them next season!

I went to Homestead farms to see what they had after reading your note, Liz. Didn't order any peonies but did order some ferns and iris. Hopefully they can ship before freeze up. lol

I hope so, Mary! Here's the roots from Homestead:
America--the biggest feeder root is bigger around than my wrist, can't get my hand completely around it! The label in the pic is 10" long to give a reference...

Sea Shell--trying it yet again, hopefully with more success this time

Chedder Surprise

Dawn Glow

Paula Fay--I'm supposed to have this one but think the last was a GW purchase...oops.

Tom Eckhardt--another prior GW purchase....

Kevin--the reason I ordered from them in the first place....

Fireball

Do Tell--another repeat, the one I have was from a grower that I don't order from anymore because their roots have never done well for me. Hope this one is better here...

Sea Shell--yet another repeat...

America was easily the biggest root but all were healthy and better than average size. As long as they do okay next spring I'll order from them again!

Nice roots, Liz!

Thanks Alex! And their prices were very good. Hopefully they won't be mis-id'ed....if they're true to variety I'll be making Homestead Farms one of my go to places from now on!

Wow, your new purchases look mighty fine, everyone! Best of luck with your new plants! I look forward to seeing photos of beautiful blooms from your new plants next year. I am not adding much this year due to reworking the beds and moving plants around. I got two new additions but I don't think that they will bloom next year. Many thanks to Liz for Caroline Constabel and Pink fernleafs. Maybe I will get one or two blooms off the pink fernleafs. Some new blooms for me next year maybe Strawberry Creme Brulee, Pink Hawaiian Coral, Winged Victory, Edward Flynn, and Negrita. These, planted previous years, have not yet bloomed so hopefully they will bloom next spring.

Many thanks to Karen for picking up Caroline Constabel for us both! And I'm glad the pink fernleafs worked out, he's such a super nice person....Still liking Adelman's Orphan for the foliage color but it just wasn't what we wanted, right?

I'm still waiting on Strawberry Crème Brulee and Winged Victory to bloom as well....think SCB will be at least one more year, it's pretty puny compared to the others I got from Select Plus...

I received some multiplex anemones for the botanical garden. Great timing. Also received an answer from Adelman's. They are replacing (they are on their way!) three of the four we lost from our 2015 order. They don't have the fourth anymore. It was a little on the edge for here anyway. That was great of them and even more great that we don't have to wait til next fall. My new joined bed is getting done slowly. Had a time finding hard edging but finally found some contractors edging ($$ ouch) that will work great. So now to drape poly over the top of the rock, down the sides inside the bed and across maybe a foot of the bottom. Slowly rake dirt back then put the hard siding at the top of the block so assure no dirt gets out and stabilizes the block. I have a hydrangea, several peonies, lilies, iris and such to replants ASAP. They still have time to grow a little root before full on freeze up.

Mary, I am also playing musical chairs this fall but at least the newly purchased ones are planted today. It took me so long to figure what to do and implement the changes. Still have to find some space for divided peonies though - not easy as there is no allocation of the grass area to the new development this year from my significant one

I totally forgot that I had cut up Border Charm and threw it into a bucket and covered them with soil. I think I got about six pieces with pips on each. Weather is looking really good today so we will hopefully complete the new joined beds; well, at least get the rock work done and the edging finished, then smooth out the soil. Still have dahlias and weed removal to do before I can compost and level it out. I should have the Hidden Springs peonies any day. I figure about seven peonies will go into that bed. Not at all crowded.

I got a box from Solaris Farms and A & D yesterday, planting today!

Did I miss/forget it or has anyone seen plants from Hidden Springs. I guess they are having a terrible time with flooding. Seems like they had the same problem last year. Half the fields are under water or some such. The Buchites (sp) are doing it all by themselves. I just cannot imagine it. They are not spring chickens as I recall.

They are very active chickens, the Buchites. The amount of rainfall we have had in the area is astonishing. Can't speak for their last year, but this year it surely is getting in the way of harvest. Hopefully things will dry out this week!

I ordered their P. Off bunch (1 ea red, pink and white) and that's the field that's underwater! That has to be incredibly frustrating for them, hope their roots make it out okay.

It is tough to run a peony or daylily business. It requires hard work and a lot of endurance and strength to send great plants. I do feel for the folks at Hidden Springs and hope everything is ok.