Oberon, I know that feeling; it can be really depressing when the guys down south start showing their peonies
It is not a big difference among us; it is even possible than Nick has more growth in Edmonton (3b) than we here in Toronto (5.) It will be interesting to see if they will all bloom in the same time. It seems as Liz and Frank are ahead of us. Interesting.
I thought that only my peonies are late because of the semi-shade garden, but not. My neighbour has hers in the full sun, but they are still barely showing above the ground. Another neighbour has his peonies totally exposed to the sun and winter, close to the sidewalk, without any protection, but his are kind of bigger. Not a lot though. I wonder if it depends on the strength of the plant. Mine are really small, most of them planted last year. They were even bought like single stem "orphan" plants.
