I got a 5+ eyed peony. A&D (?) was late in sending it as they were waiting for it to arrive for transship so he sent me an extra large one. Have to go look up the name. It is Japanese. Indeed, I could easily cover it with a cage (I make mine from 2" squares green fencing. Makes nice round fences easily covered by burlap. All of which I just pitched as I didn't intend to do that again after the mouse thing. Really terrified that the little rodents would set up house in any burlap cages like they did before. So cozy for them and food right there to eat. If I had simply wrapped the plant tightly rather than providing a nice little 16" x 24" home it might have been okay. It is getting closer to time to dig up swaths of my garden to prepare for the new peonies. But the dahlias are doing better than they ever have so I can't bear to cut them down. I think I will have to do so before frost which isn't the best for them but I don't want to be out there cutting down plants and digging holes in under 32F weather which will be wet and nasty. Want to get all the greenery and brown stuff while still half way dry to run through the grinder to spread on the beds. I gave the botanical garden stat sheets with pics of 13 of those coming to choose from. The others I want for myself like 'Christmas' and 'Battle Flag' and a couple of fernies. Many of theirs were hybridized in the late 1800's so figured those were good choices for them.
