Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Anniversary Gifts
Last month was my 2nd year anniversary, and the hubs surprised me with a bag of daffodil bulbs. He listens well. He knows that I've been wanting to buy bulbs for the front flower garden. I love flowers and plants as gifts, so this made me super giddy.
Then in the mail, we received a package from White Flower Farm. His Grammy had sent 2 Nancy Nora Peony bare roots as an anniversary gift. It was so thoughtful of her. Peonies are my most favorite flower. I absolutely adore them, from the large blooms to the fragrance! It's so wonderful. The bare roots came nicely wrapped in wet newspaper.
The bare root was a really nice size. Very large as you can see.
I am not sure where to plant these peonies yet, so I decided to plant the bare roots in containers for now. Does anyone know if I can keep them in containers throughout the winter and plant them in the spring? And does anyone know when I stop watering them for the winter? Should I stop after the first snowfall?
The directions said to plant the bulb until the buds are just barely an inch under the soil.
I can't wait until the peonies start growing into a bush in the spring. I am soooo excited! My friend told me that bare root peonies usually take 3 years to flower. Ugh, I can't wait that long! As a gift to myself, I also order some Crocus Sativus from McClure and Zimmerman. $7.95 for 12 bulbs, I thought that was a great bargain. I ordered from them because I read on Greensparrow's blog that they were a good company to order bulbs from. I ordered these bulbs after reading about them on Greenish Thumb. I never knew that is where saffron comes from. I love using saffron in cooking but I rarely buy it because it's so expensive. How awesome that you can grow your own. I bought a dozen bulbs to plant in the garden, I can't wait until they come up next October! Fun!!
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The perfect anniversary gifts.
ReplyDeletePeonies are not a common plant here in MS.
ReplyDeleteYou are going to enjoy everything when it blooms.
Happy anniversary.
what great gifts - especially the peonies that are supposed to last for a gazillion years! I think both my bareroot peonies bloomed the first spring after planting in the fall. Not very prolifically, but nonetheless. Each year, my green halo gets bigger and bigger - tons of blooms now!
ReplyDeleteI realize I didn't get back to you about a source for the saffron - sorry about that!! I sort of lost track of that! I can't even remember where I got them - probably from whoever had a coupon for free shipping! I can tell you that they really multiplied this year.
Happy anniversary to you and your devoted hubby!!
What a super gift, he knows you well! If I were you I would keep them in a cool dark place until spring, keep them from drying out, but not damp where they will mold. I transplanted about 25 Peonies when I moved to the new house (10 years ago), it took them 2-3 years to really take hold and bloom, I dug them up from an old abandoned farmhouse and put them in garbage bags and planted them a week later. I remember it was summertime. The next year they shot up stalks but barely any leaves and no blooms, the 2nd year I had 2-3 blooms on all 25 bushes! The 3rd year I had hundreds, they are the most beautiful Peonies now, they are along a fence and I never ever cut them to the ground like some do. I basically neglect them and they thrive. I have a Japanese yellow Tree Peony and it has the most beautiful 3 blooms each year, and has the fragrance of Heaven but she's behind the shed, an awful spot but Im too scared to move her!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on all the goodies, I love peonies as well. I have only planted bare root in the Spring, and they failed- all others have been in pots. I would call White Flower Farm for an answer that question.
ReplyDeleteI bought some some saffies too after learning they were a fall blooming crocus. All the damn rabbits mow down my spring blooms, maybe they will leave these alone!!
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary Mimi!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jezibels, the peonies will be fine in the pots as long as they do not completely dry out. if you have a garden shed, they'll be fine there too. They're very hardy plants, so it won't be a problem if they freeze -does the ground actually freeze in Staten Island? Just remember, when you do finally decide where to plant the peonies, do not plant them more than 2" over the crowns: peonies are long-lived reliables, but they are picky about planting depths -they can refuse to flower if they are not at the right depth.
I'm so jealous! I wished I had room for peonies!