Sounds like you've been having very similar weather that we've been having. Doesn't seem to have been a problem for my iris, but timing of the blooms is probably the difference. Your peonies look lovely. My peonies on the whole have been disappointing. The blooms seem smaller, although a couple of plants were outstanding. I only have 1 tree peony, looks a lot like your first one, but it has a Chinese name I have forgotten. The last couple of years it has not done well. This year it only had 2 blooms, it got hit by a hard frost. Some of my daylilies are not looking very happy from getting all that rain then suddenly the hot dry temps. So far only a few are yellowing, I hope we get the rain they are predicting.
Everything looks very springlike at your home, the flowers are all so very pretty. Love the way the rhodo is draping through the railing.

Beautiful pics but I know the feeling about the heat. We have cooled down considerably here and I'm hopeful it will stay within the 60-70 range for a few weeks. I do believe they mentioned more rain coming later in the week.

Nancy, the peonies have been small here too. Heat and dryness at the wrong time.

I love your Elsa Spath !

I grew Elsa Spath. I had it planted by a pink rose (Yves Piaget) and it clambered through it for years and years. They both had peak bloom about the same time in spring and it was a gorgeous sight. Elsa Spath is one of the few shorter Clematis that won't swamp a normal sized rose around here. She's such a beauty. So glad you posted her....Tree peonies are beautiful. It's the pits when the spring weather doesn't cooperate with our flowers. It happens so often here in Oklahoma. The constant rain this year has done a number on peak rose bloom, splitting canes that were laden with blooms. That after 3 years of severe drought that also did plants no favors. It's a challenge sometimes to persevere every year knowing what could (and in Oklahoma usually does) happen. But gardeners are ever the optimists ..............Maryl

The peonies are beautiful. The hot weather did result in the late iris being smaller than usual here. The peonies were very nice this year, but still need to be moved to a better situation...hopefully this fall I will mange that. I prefer the large flowered clematis, and yours is a beauty, Mantis
kay

My 'Anvil of Darkness' iris did not bloom this year :( Might be due to young age still, but I was pretty bummed.

Well the flowers all look great in your photos Mantis, even if the weather took its toll. There were some disappointments here too. My Yakima Blue irises and my favorite daffodils - Ice Follies - did not bloom at all this spring. The azaleas had a very short run when temps reached 89-91 degrees, as did the few tulips I have left. The only plants that really put on a show were the dogwoods and the old fashioned bleeding hearts.

Debra, your temps were only a few degrees above ours. Right now we need a soaking rain.

Mantis , what is that gorgeous pink flower tree or bush in your picture? Wow it is glorious

Signet

Love all your flowers, especially the Peonies. Signet, that plant behind the dog is Rhododendron.

wow, them flowers are gorgeous, The dog looks pretty good, too. wish you could get our rain.I am sick of rain every day. rained almost every day in April and its still at it,almost every day.

jean

Mixed news from KY: My Irises barely bloomed this year, worst year ever. Creeping Phlox did poorly. Looks like my Rhododendron isn't going to bloom. Daffodils were fair to poor and some tulips did well & other poor to not at all. However, my English Blue Bells, Snow Drops and Tall Phlox did well, and both my red and orange Oriental Lilies are ready to bloom and they are filled with buds. The Dianthus I planted 3 or 4 years ago that I only expected to bloom a year is blooming exceptionally well.