Thanks to all!
You know if these buds actually make it through the bad weather I will certainly post photos.

I'm hoping to see all of your photos too, especially if mine get frozen out.

AlexUnder said:Karen, Coral Sunset is so close to the tree trunk. Did you have any problems with the peony development so far?

So far, the Coral Sunset is still blooming and doing ok. It does not bloom as much as my Coral Charm in full sun and free from tree root but I am happy with its performance nonetheless given its growing condition. On the other side of this peach tree is my Bartzella. It does not seem fazed by being planted near the tree though.



THe north facing side of the Bartzella is definitely affected due to shade.


The south facing side of the same Bartzella is full of blooms.


I think it helps that I planted these plants about the same time. The peach tree was quite small.

Karen, your Coral Charm and Bartzella are gorgeous!

I have also planted peonies in areas that I thought were fine, only to have trees, rhizomes and bulbs grow larger and compete with the roots of the peonies.

Here are a few pics from this afternoon. Shimanishiki has sent up 2 more buds from the ground, now a total of 3, with only 1 bud present on the tree that has fully leafed out.🤨



Merry Mayshine is also coming up with 5 buds first. I'm going to have to move the iris.


Henry Bockstoce also up bud 1st. There's a self seeded iris competing with this plant that has to be moved.


I'm thrilled to see at least 3 buds on Julia Rose, this plant did not bloom last year, after it got divided in fall of 2016

Karen, Your Peonies look great despite being planted so close to the peach tree.

Annette, I'm really excited to see all the growth you have. Spring is coming for sure. We were 78° yesterday, but Wednesday night into Thursday morning they say we will drop to 31°. I am hoping that forecast will change!

Everyone's plants look great. So far I have had minimal (a few drooping branches on young tree peonies) damage. I have covered nothing. Here is an update on growth on some of the early plants. I will forgo the names for brevity.

Lan Bao Shi last year on this day.

Lan Bao Shi today; lone bloom for past 2 years, this year there are 3 to 4 buds. Still closed but starting to peel back.


Other random Tree Peony shots



Lu Liu, just planted in October, 3 buds beginning to peel back

This is my biggest itoh, but all started really growing this week (4 inches up)

Friday and Saturday were in the 70s here, 60s today. This week will be in 40s with lows below freezing with snow on Tuesday night. Mother Nature will prevail. I just hope she plays nice.

I started fertilizing today, had most of an 18 lb bag of BulbTone left over from the fall. Got most of the way through the single biggest bed I have. I started with that one since it typically "wakes up" first. Saw several signs of growth, mostly on ones you'd expect to show up first like fernleafs and the 2 oldest Molly seedlings but several of the later blooming plants had big eyes showing just under the mulch. It's been such a mild winter here this year I really shouldn't be surprised to see earlier than normal growth. Now I just have to start thinking warm spring thoughts to keep the May blizzards away!

Oh, by the way, I used the last of the fertilizer I had on hand and quit at around 1 pm, it's now 4:45 and it's snowing. Not supposed to get very cold so the snow is a good thing, it's been such a dry winter.

Gary, your trees and Itoh are looking great! Hopefully, your plants won't be affected by the upcoming colder weather.

Liz, glad you were able to get the fertilizer down before the snow came. I fertilized several weeks ago, none was put down in the fall. I'm surprised that my neglected plants still came up with buds. Peonies are such forgiving plants.

Gary, those pictures look great !! I can't wait to see the blooms.

Liz, good for you to get your fertilizer on! I'm glad you were happy to have the snow.

Gary, can't imagine the beauty of your garden 7 years from now when your tree peonies mature and produce many blooms per bush. What a sight it will be in spring! I like that you space them much farther apart in order to show each tree as its own unique specimen.

Wow, you guys are so on top of fertilizing. I have yet to do that. I hope to get that done but it's been too cold and we keep getting noreasters.

Thanks, Karen. I think planting at the same time does the trick. Your peonies look gorgeous.

We just can't win here GA, we're now under a tornado warning with large hail expected tonight🤨!

I've gone out in my jammies to put the potted plants under a table and off of high surfaces to protect them from going airborne, and hopefully to prevent damage from the 1 inch hail that's expected.🙄

How did it go, Annette? We were under tornado watch all day, and thankfully nothing happened. Now it's supposed to snow this afternoon.

Happy first day of Spring!!

We did fine, thanks for asking LG! Hopefully, you won't have any problems from the snow!

There was damage in the south and west of the city, and thousands people lost power last night. I feel very fortunate that we only had rain and hail. I'll have to check the plants when I get home later. We're going below freezing again tomorrow night.

I am hoping that this wild weather leaves everyone alone soon!
It was snowing when I got home from work. I covered what I could but quite a few Peonies are now taller than the 5 gallon buckets I use for them.

Good luck to you all!

I know now what you mean! Just cam back from New Mexico, it was snowing there too! And pretty hot during a day. Very strange! No wonder that peonies can grow and then freeze. I wish nobody will get disappointed this spring. Good luck!

Everything is buried under more than a foot of snow today.



I am glad that it has been pretty cold during this month so that peonies growths take a pause. Although there are flower buds on all of my tree peonies, I don't think they are big enough to be damaged by this cold and snow.

Karen, all I can say is WOW! That's a large amount of snow, and I hope that all of your plants are fine!

Karen it does not look like the 21st of March in your zone!!! It's pretty cold in Fairbanks, AK but there is no growth and I don't worry so far. I wish your garden to melt successfully!

Oh no, Karen! I hope that it will all melt away quickly!! Hopefully your Tree Peony buds will be fine.

Keep us posted!