Moving Day
As the years roll by we are becoming sun starved in one of your backyards. The Oak, Ash and Black Walnut trees all contribute to that feelings of cooler temperatures during the hot months, but it’s bad news for plants that need at least six hours of sunlight to be at their best. The humidity was low today and that spurred us on to transplant the Fern Peonies that needed more sunlight hours to be at their best.
The beauty of the Fern Peony
My Mom always stressed that the month of August was the time for any and all Peonies to be moved. We watered down the four Fern Peony plants in the hope that the moist dirt would allow for the plants to come up in clumps rather than in pieces from soil that is extremely dry, suffering from weeks without rain. It worked like a champ. I could never have done the deed if Dennis had not been at the business end of the shovel. A little fertilizer in the bottom of the holes with a bit of water and voilà.
Next spring will be the rest of the story. Fern Peonies are some of the first to peek out of the soil and are in full bloom by mid May. We always give special attention to these Fern Peonies as they were harvested from my grandparent’s farm by my Mom and Dad and shared with the four of us kids. The plants represent some of the history of my Dad’s family and for me having spent many summers on their farm . . . priceless.
The plants can be purchased in nurseries around the state, but they come with a hefty price tag. The going price is generally $40.00 for a sprig in a six inch pot. The tubers do multiply for a full bush over time, but this plant is not for the impatient gardener.