www.peonies.org read FAQ's. Read previous postings lots of good information and earlier this year there was a link to a printout you could download.

Wow, you are so lucky to have gotten those family treasures! I'm new to peonies also, so I can't offer help but just wanted to congratulate you on these.

Maureen

mommaspecs:

In addition to the link below, which offers a very nice planting diagram, I am also posting several other resources that you might find equally as valuable.

1. La Pivoinerie D'Aoust Peony Nursery.

This site - web address below - will not only provide you with an array of their offerings, but it also illustrates what a good Peony rootstock should be. The instructions listed just below can be found at the link below.

"How to Grow Peonies: A little care goes a long way"

http://www.paeonia.com/html/about_peonies/how_to_grow_peonies.htm

2. Useful information can also be found at A & D Nursery, who have an extensive offering of Peonies. I received my first order from them last week and am more than pleased with the quality of their plants.

Their article on Peony Culture can be found at the link below - then look for Peony culture

http://www.adpeonies.com/

3. In the state of Indiana, you can also go to your local county cooperative extension service, which is a part of Purdue University. The file - on planting peonies - link below is a PDF file. In my searches at their main web site, I found out that the Peony is Indiana's State Flower. Did you know that?

Main site:

http://www.ces.purdue.edu/new/

Peony information site:

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/HO-76.pdf

4. Another superbly, excellent source of all sorts of gardening information can be found at the PlantFinder site of the wondrous Missouri Botanical Garden. I have listed several site of interest below. If you're in St. Louis - especially in mid June - you'll see this superb and inspirational garden in full bloom, but you'll have to spend at least 1.5 to 2 days to really and thoroughly enjoy its wonders.

Here's their main web address:

http://www.mobot.org/

Here's the main page to the "Plant Finder" informational site at the Kemper Center for Home Gardening's alphabetical listing of plant information.

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Alpha.asp

And here's an example of what you will find in regard to one lovely peony - Paeonia lactiflora 'Duchesse de Nemours', which I may add to my garden one day.

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=Q260

And this link will take you to their absolutely wonderful "search" engine.

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Search.asphttp://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Search.asp

I made use of this search engine to find this plant as I wanted something that would be attractive to butterflies and hummingbird and not too short or too tall for a certain area of the garden. If you look at either this plant or the peony listed below, you'll find all sorts of information starting with it suitability for various aspects, both local and on line sources, photographs - in most cases - and good information on culture, habits, "problems", etc. In my mind, it is the best source that I've discovered to date.

The plant is Phlox paniculata 'Mount Fuji' and here's the link:

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=E600

Since I wanted to add some ornamental grasses that would be suitable for our climate in northwestern Michigan, I used the "search" section, click on "Plant type" and scrolled down until I found "Ornamental Grasses" As the result of my searches, I found and have added the following two grasses to different places in the garden.

The first is "Chasmanthium latifolium" - commonly known as "Inland sea oats". Here's the link:

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=A240

And I also added this ornamental grass: "Miscanthus 'Purpurascens'" commonly known as "Flame Grass" and/or by other names. Again, here's the link:

http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=E220

Hope this will provide you with both information and inspiration; if not, just let me know and I'll "flood" you with a little bit more. ;>)

What else does a good Librarian/Gardener do? ;>)

Best wishes in your gardening endeavors!

Bill

Here is a link that might be useful: North Dakota State University Extension Service

Hi, Mommaspecs-Congrats on the heirlooms! Do you know what kind they are? I've got tons of peonies that have been passed along for a few generations. Everything is in the initial planting, and you've gotten great resources from Mozart. I didn't know that the peony is the state flower...cool ;)