The tours were absolutely wonderful! The first garden belonged a lady named Fran who actually knew Daphnis, got some instruction on woody propagation and hybridizing from him! She has been gardening at that same place for over 30 years and her garden was truly amazing, only negative is there were almost no plant tags.
Fran gave us tips on layering for propagation and on planting grafted tree peonies. For layering, she said to find a lower stem, woody, not new, and slowly pull it down to the ground by tying it to a brick or similar and tighten every day. Once it will lay on the ground she said to scrape the stem, apply rooting powder and bury that spot slightly under soil. Don't let it get too dry and just leave it, will take at least until the following spring to form roots. Once it's firmly rooted it can be cut from the parent plant and moved that fall.
For grafted woodies she says always plant at least 5' apart. Also says they need to be dug up after 2 years or so and the herbaceous root removed, that leaving it on will eventually negatively impact the vigor of the plant if it doesn't rot away on its own.
I took a lot of pics as well but am working stupid long hours the next couple of weeks, will try to sort and post here when I get time!
