Since Anya and I are flying together, I will move my reservation back to Wed to match hers. Same with hotel. Don't want to miss Adelman's though I have been there before. But haven't been to the other venues for Thursday.

Almost as excited about the trip to Mid America, have otdered iris from them the last 2 years and they have a huge selection. Not so interested in hostas so I'll be sneaking off to tiptoe through the iris fields....and maybe a trip back later! Learned from my WI trip and have ordered paper maps of OR and WA so I can note where everything is that I want to visit and have an easy visual.

For those without a car the light rail is great. Can catch it right at the airport to downtown. I take one right to within a two blocks of the Heathman Hotel where I usually stay. My daughter and I even took it out to the Rose Garden/Japanese Garden. This time Anya and I will have to switch trains to get to the Convention Hotel but they are usually right next to each other and I have the map of the rail system. The hotel told me which ones to take.

So much truly beautiful country out there. See as much of it as you can while you are there. Some of the best growing conditions in the entire country, if not the best.

Mary, Liz, and Anya, please note your favorite peonies while you are at the APS this year. I would love to hear your top 5 most memorable peonies that you see on your trip. If you have pics of them to share, so much the better.

Wrote "note to self' so I don't forget to take pictures and make notes on favorites. I am sure we will be going around with our jaws on the ground in awe of the gorgeous plants and blooms. I am practicing saying to myself 'you don't need or can afford to have them all.'

THanks Mary. That's what I have been trying to tell myself since the peony vendor websites had been updated at beginning of the year. I have not ordered much but who knows what can happen after this blooming season. I am sure I will add a "few" after seeing pics of gorgeous peonies from the convention.

lol. If you are 'lucky' your choices will be sold out. lol

Mary is right, jaws will be on the ground. I definitely will make a lot of pictures and notes, just hope for no rain. There is no room in my garden but who knows if I can be firm and not buy anything

Absolutely, Karen! The ones that stood out the most from the 2016 convention were Nate's seedlings, both herbaceous and tree. Spotted Sonoma YeDo several times but that's probably because it was one of my unicorn peonies anyway....I'll try to get a side by side comparison of it and Sonoma Halo, and maybe Bartzella or any other yellow Itoh if I can talk anyone there into letting me move vases for just a couple of minutes--all for the Garden.org Peony Forum's education on them, of course! If there's anything or specific peony anyone is interested in please speak up, I have no problems asking questions of the growers. I'm hoping to see some of Swenson's new Itohs in person there as well. If I do I'll post during the convention as I plan to have my iPad with me. I am so ready for it, our weather has been nasty over the last several days, not getting above 30 since our 70 degree day on Sunday. Read a news blurb that Denver had one of the top 10 biggest temperature drops over 40 hours between Sunday afternoon and Tueday morning, dropped 70 degrees at one point. Come on spring, I'm ready!

I would love to see pics of any new intros that you see at the convention. Those are hard to come by as being very new. Also if it is not too much to ask, the parentage information of the new peonies would be awesome to know as well.

It is okay to be addicted to buying, and growing beautiful things like peonies !

I'll take a note to take better pics of the cards with the flowers, Karen. That way I should be able to label pics more comprehensively with the parentage, thanks for the suggestion!
I know what you mean about wanting to be better educated before purchasing the new ones. I've certainly done that before--purchased an expensive root based on just one or two pics--and it's worked out fine but it would be so much better if you could be more sure you're going to love the flowers you end up with.

LizinElizabeth said:Absolutely, Karen! The ones that stood out the most from the 2016 convention were Nate's seedlings, both herbaceous and tree. Spotted Sonoma YeDo several times but that's probably because it was one of my unicorn peonies anyway....I'll try to get a side by side comparison of it and Sonoma Halo, and maybe Bartzella or any other yellow Itoh if I can talk anyone there into letting me move vases for just a couple of minutes--all for the Garden.org Peony Forum's education on them, of course! If there's anything or specific peony anyone is interested in please speak up, I have no problems asking questions of the growers. I'm hoping to see some of Swenson's new Itohs in person there as well. If I do I'll post during the convention as I plan to have my iPad with me. I am so ready for it, our weather has been nasty over the last several days, not getting above 30 since our 70 degree day on Sunday. Read a news blurb that Denver had one of the top 10 biggest temperature drops over 40 hours between Sunday afternoon and Tueday morning, dropped 70 degrees at one point. Come on spring, I'm ready!

Liz l put up a post 6 days ago titled Need help ,maybe you could get some information for me thanks.Looking forward to all the pictures

They just posted that it is completely sold out!
I hope no one waited too long!

Amazing! Is it common???

I think it is fairly common. Depending on the venue and availability for dinners, buses planned etc. It's far better to sell out than lose your money financially to a convention you thought would have a better turn out, only to not have spaces filled and essentially lose money on putting on the event.

Happy for APS to have a nice turn out. That's great news.

Definitely Anya, we are taking a cab to hotel when we arrive to get there as quickly as possible. Dump the bags in the lobby and run for the meeting room. lol

Sure, Mary! Can't wait!

MaryStella, I admit to loving that approach to convention.