Every year my pink peony gets bigger and bigger and quite frankly becomes a bit unmanageable.
I remember when it was a little plant. .
I bought the peony ring at the store and it worked. .
sort of.
Then, I resorted to using old panty hose to to tie to poles to keep it feeling lifted.
My beloved saw my efforts as rather undistinguished in the garden.
This year. .
my beloved has taken the responsibility to keep the flowers off the ground when the inevitable rain will come down just when the blossoms are fully open.
He used some heavy rebar and welded a hoop on the bars.
I love the expanding waistline feature.
Oh. .and wondering how that plant got so big.
Organic matter complimentary from the hens.
all for now. .
Well if that doesn't hold it up nothing will. Isn't it true that the rains always beat down on the newly opened peonies.
ReplyDeleteWow! That is one big plant! I chuckled at one picture...I thought for a moment that he was going to attack it with a hammer!
ReplyDeleteNow those peonies are secure for sure. Great job! I sure hope my little bush gets nice and full like yours!
ReplyDeleteI'd love a little piece of that gorgeous pink peony. I have white ones and deep purple pink ones and I love them. Yes they do need propping up and confining and the rain can make them look very bedraggled but when they bloom, they do it with exuberance and are so gorgeous. I'll have Harv check out Terry's set up.
ReplyDeletehmm...maybe i need some organic matter from some hens... :)
ReplyDeleteGreat job your hubby did on making sure those peonies hold up.
ReplyDeleteI'd love some pink peonies. I remember seeing those bouquets on your table..gorgeous.
From the title of your post...I was thinking you were restraining yourself from cutting blooms before they were fully ready for snipping. I see you had another kind of restraint in mind! I can't even imagine my peonies ever getting that big. It's time to import some organic fertilizer, me thinks!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait until Bernie flies home tonight so I can tell him what Terry has been up to now.
ReplyDeleteEvery boy wants, and apparently needs, to be welding ready at all times, cuz you just never know when a bit of welding work might pop up around the old homestead.
Please, oh please post pictures when they bloom! I had deep pink ones where we used to live, and still haven't planted some at our current house. What am I waiting for?? Love peonies! Another trick I discovered is to cut off dead heads immediately, and the plant will stay nice throughout the summer.
ReplyDeleteSuch ingenuity! I love it.
ReplyDeleteI'd laugh if I could get my chin up from the floor. That plant is on steroids! I have never in my life seen or known of such a peony plant. And I love Terry's way of managing it...that first picture was a bit startling. I must remember to show John. He'll think it's pure genius.
ReplyDeleteThose men know how to do anything eh? I love how he so generously helps you keep that garden so neat and tidy..
ReplyDeleteAbout the expanding waistline...I need a bit of a lift also...or maybe I mean a reduction.
Wish my peonies needed that kind of help!!! It's their third year and they look about the size of the ones you buy from the plant store. Oh well....maybe in 1o years. The expanding waist is terrific!!!
ReplyDeleteDo you rent your hens out?? I would love to have them come bring their donations to my peony plants !! They look NOTHING like yours !!
ReplyDeleteNow.. if we'd have had that, maybe we would not have pulled out our peonies! I was not impressed with flowers that just lay on the ground.
ReplyDeleteIndustrial! I love it.
ReplyDeleteThis year I have my first peony plant. No blooms, but I have high hopes for next year. I'll have to ask our hens for contributions!
ReplyDeleteI'll keep that solution in mind - I've used the hoop and the pantyhose. Mine is not nearly as large as yours. perhaps I need some chickens . . .
ReplyDeleteTie rods....expandable......perfect solution to hole up those blooms. That will be one lovely large bouquet very soon....just a wee bit of sun.....
ReplyDeleteWow, that is one big peony plant. I can imagine it is going to be gorgeous when it blooms. Hope you'll share anothe picture when the time comes.
ReplyDeleteYour husband has thought up a wonderful solution to keeping it upright.
Wow - this is a giant peony plant! You must get so many beautiful flowers form it all summer long! Your beloved made a very good looking and functional brace for it..nice job!
ReplyDeleteYup, John did think it was genius. He's considering loading up our peony with cow manure next spring. He actually considered doing it today, which I did not consider pure genius.
ReplyDelete22 comments...I'm thinking it was the Calendar Boy shot of Terry that was the real draw.
ReplyDeleteAfter all, the peonies weren't even opened yet, nothing to see there really.
I have a question about your peonies, I am wondering if they attract ants? I was inspired by this post to plant a peony in my front yard and after doing some research I heard that they attract ants. I do not want to have ants in the blooms if I bring them into the house. Have you had any issues with this? You seem to pick them and have a beautiful centre piece regularly. Any helpful hints or tips would be appreciated.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Kathy
Hi Kathy,
ReplyDeleteI haven't noticed any ant activity around the peony bush. We have had some ants under our patio stones but that is a ways from the peony. I am always amazed at how black flies like to sit on the buds. Those might sneak into the house but I haven't found any ants yet.