I've got approximately 40 different peonies (when did that happen?), which constitutes a full crapload of peonies (as opposed to a half crapload). I don't provide supports for all my peonies, just the taller ones standing alone as specimens in their borders, or the larger ones prone to topple. Paeonia tenuifolia, low-growing and already in bloom, doesn't need support. And many of my peonies are confined in a defined area (the "peony bed," what else?) where they can mostly lean on each other. But, in total, I counted 21 commercial support hoops hanging in my garage this weekend when they should have already been in place hovering over the peonies. Over the peonies? Around the peonies would be a better description. Those babies have really shot up over the past two weeks, with many beginning full bud and topping better than 2 feet!
So I rushed around yesterday and got the supports in place. Thank God that I've purchased a number of those commercial hoops that have a hook-catch so you can place them around already established clumps, such as the one shown above. Other peonies, not quite so tall, are lagging and so they got the "unsnapable" supports that they can grow up through like the one at the right. And a few peonies are just going to have to do without this year because I used some of the smaller supports for a few "front-and-center" sedums that have a tendency to flop around and look flat in late summer when they should be standing tall and proudly the center of attention. It's like a country song. "Mamas, don't let your peonies grow up to be flop-mops. Don't feed'em to much or shade them too much, Let'em be beauties and cut flowers and such." (Apologies to Waylon).
Ya got me on peonies. They don't live here. Don't forget the bloomin' photos. Hmmm, you have cedar rust on your apple tree, and BIL in Ohio has cedar rust on his cedar tree due to nearby crabapple tree. Can't those plants just get along?
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