Peony.

[brownfingers]

I planted a peony over 3 years ago and it's never done a thing. This year, it's flowered for the first time. Big pink flowers with a lovely scent. This morning, the rain has put paid to the flowers and I'm not sure what to do. Does it all want cutting back to the floor, or do I leave it to die back on it's own?

[roitelet]

Beautiful! Shake the water out of the flowers and cut off any that are past it. Don't cut it down the leaves are attractive all summer and they help to build up the tuber for next year.

[shushkin!]

WOW! Its gorgeous. I think it was well worth waiting for. I'd do the same as roitelet. Adding a top dress of a handful of fish, blood and bonemeal should set it up well for next year.

[peony_desiree]

Beautiful blossoms! Peonies can be tricky, but are really mesmerizing when they bloom. When I fisrt starded growing mine I had some troubles too. Now they look really great.

[mothhawk]

This year I'm having a go at growing oriental poppies from seed. They are SO tiny!





The plank of two by four in the pot is a lollipop stick

[roitelet]

Best of luck, I've never got them to germinate!!

[mothhawk]

I only managed three out of a whole packet, and two of those look as if they are not going to make it

It's so frustrating when Welsh poppies shoot up everywhere in the garden even though I'm sure I have dead-headed all the flowers before they go to seed. Maybe I should find someone who has oriental poppies, beg a seed-head, and just shake it around the garden.

[bearded bloke]

Peonies from seed are very ssssllooooooooooowwww I planted seeds from a double, took 5 years to get a bloom, was worth the wait though
Tried seed saving last year from my open single that the bees love, but sealed the bag too soon & they went mouldy Will try again this year & hopefully get a load into the seed swap