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Pamela Lang

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EVERY SPRING in late May and early June, many North
Shore gardens have a great display of peonies. They are a
long time favorite of gardeners and have been cultivated in
China and Japan for more than two thousand years.

in full bioom

MOST NOR¢H Shore gardens don’t look like this
right now, but gardeners can have a yard filled
with blooms in the spring and summer, especial-
ly if they do some advance planning.

Perennials, like peonies, require some time
and attention when they are first planted and first
blooming, but you may be able to leave them to
their own designs for a few years after the initial
season,

| INEW SHIPMENT
Ferra
Cotta
SUNS

& sun/moon combos

IRONSTONE
EARTHWARE

Peonies were introduced into
Europe during the nineteenth centu-
ry and have continued to be popular
in Europe and North America.

As a garden perennial, peonies
are very hardy and produce large
masses of colorful blooms. The vast
majority of peonies are the typical
herbaceous variety (P.albiflora or
P.sinensis), but the shrub type
peony (P. suffruticosa) is becoming
more populay. Growing both types
together allows for two levels of
color or a stacked offect in a mixed
border.

The herbaceous peony is divided
into five general groups based on
the style of the flower: Singles,
Japan-ese, Anemone, Semi-double
and Double. The most common gar-
den varieties are usually double
flowering, and there are many col-
ors and blooming dates to choose
from.

Herbaceous peonies grow from
an underground crown that has a
series of eyes or stem buds. If this
crown has become over-crowded or
the soil is depleted, the blooms will
decrease in number, develop weak
stems and shatter too quickly.

If your current plants are show-
ing signs of weak growth it may be
time to split and replant the crown.

Keep in mind the growing condi-
tions that peoriies require:

They grow best in full sun but
will tolerate light shade for part of
the day. Without sufficient light,
plants will not bloom as readily.

A deep, well drained fertile soil
Photo submitted = with a pH of 6 to 6.5 will produce

Roy
Jonsson

SOW IT GROWS

the strongest plants. They do not
appreciate competition from other
plants or neighboring root systems.

When transplanting peonies
divide the old root ball into smaller
clumps that have five eyes or stem
buds. Root sections that have fewer
eyes will bloom. but it may take
several years to develop blossoms.

Small, fibrous roots that have
been damaged should be cut back to
15 cm (6°). Any cut surfaces can be
dusted with sulphur and dried
before replanting.

St is critica) to plant the roots no
more than 5 cm (2) below the sur-
face. If the eyes are too far below
the surface the plants will not bloom

See Bloom page 17

FEATURING ... Jane Lockhart
Head of Benjamin Moore’s Design Department

NORTH SHORE DECORATING
AND HOWARDS PAINT

present
Fantasy Finish Night
A Stroke of Bnilliance
with Jane Lockhart
TUESDAY Oct. 18 7:00PM.

St. Pius X Hall
4150 Mount Seymour Road

North Vancouver

Tickets Available at:

NORTH SHORE DECORATING
1420 Lonsdeie Ave., North Van. 986-1420

HOWARD’S PAINT
1491 Marine Dr., W. Van. 922-284