Other Years

Sarah Bernhardt

2022
June 15: I bought a plant from Ron Paul Garden Centre.
August 21: Surviving. Hasn't grown since being planted.
 
2014
June 20: No shoots.
July 31: One poorly developed sets of shoots. I gave them iron and fertilizer yesterday.
 
2013
June 23: No sign of it.
30: One or 2 shoots.
September 23: They developed into a few stems. There were no flowers.
 
2012
September 17: Surviving. A few small flowers. I hope it does better next year in this spot.
 
2011
May 22: Two sturdy shoots have appeared in the new raised bed. Perhaps they are Sarah Bernhardt.
June 1: I have been digging near that spot, and finding really large roots. I never suspected that peonies had such thick roots!
6: Only a few stalks but they are tall and strong.
24: Two flowers, and they are large and slightly pink.
 
2010
April 24: I plan to discard this variety this year. The flowers are not pink enough.
29: No sign of them coming through the mulch yet.
May 8: I cleared away the mulch and exposed the new shoots.
June 17: Starting flowering. The flowers are a light pink this year.
 
2009
July 4: Many fine flowers, but not very pink.
 
2008
April 28: 1 shoot.
June 24: In flower now. The flowers are pinker than some years.
 
2007
May 1: Many large shoots.
June 16: In full flower. Not much scent to them, and the flowers are white. The leaves are also paler than on the other 2 peonies.
 
2006
April 18:  Two red tips are visible today.
August 1: Doing well.
 
2005
April 20:  Shoots have appeared.
June 17:  First flower.
July 7:  It was a good show, but brief as the temperature was so hot for 2 days.
 
2004
April 26:  Shoots have appeared.
June 30:  First open flowers today, and they are pinker than last year.
July 31:  A good show, but I would still prefer pinker flowers.
 
2003
April 22:  2 red shoots are just barely showing.
June 14:  First flowers.
June 18:  I am a little disappointed by the colour.   The pink is very pale, in fact, almost white.

2002
April 21: The tip of the first shoot is just visible.
May 22: About 6 sturdy stalks have come up in the past few days.
June 25:  3 flowers are opening.
September 7:  Doing well.

2001
May 1: 6 shoots.
June 13: One flower.
July 4: There was another smaller flower later.

2000
April 29: Shoots of Sarah Bernhardt are coming through.
May 20: Mulched with grass clippings.
June 27: It's a small bush, with no flowers.
August 8: It is small plant, 28 cm high, with 5 stalks.
October 4: Frost last night did not apparently harm the plant, but the top leaves are going brown.
 
1999
September 23: Kyle dug the bed, and incorporated compost.
October 8: I bought a pink peony, a Sarah Bernhardt, from LaCoste Garden Centre, for $10.
 

Kansas

2022
June 15: I bought a plant from Walmart.
August 21: Surviving. Hasn't grown since being planted.
 

Festiva Maxima

2014
June 20: One or 2 red stems with leaves.
July 31: Two poorly developed sets of shoots. I gave them iron and fertilizer yesterday.
 
2013
June 23: Two small shoots have finally made an appearance.
September 23: They developed into many rather short stems. There were no flowers and the leaves were a pale yellow.
 
2012
September 17: Surviving. A few small flowers. I hope it does better next year in this spot.
 
2011
April 17: Shoots have appeared in its new, probably temporary, location.
June 6: Many stalks but they are only half as tall as usual.
26: Flowers.
 
2010
April 14: A few shoots are up and through the mulch.
June 17: Finishing flowering.
October 11: Dug up and moved.
 
2009
April 23: New shoots are just up.
July 4: Many fine flowers. Many of the blosssoms were on the ground during the rains.
 
2008
April 25: First shoot.
June 24: Almost in flower now.
 
2007
May 1: Shoots.
June 16: In full flower. Many stalks have flopped down onto the ground.
 
2006
April 8:  Two bright red tips appeared today.
June 3: Two flowers are opening.
August 1: Doing well.
 
2005
April 20:  Shoots have appeared.
June 19: 2 days of hot weather have cause many flowers to burst open.
July 7:  Many of the buds died without opening. Botritis?
 
2004
April 26:  Shoots have appeared.
June 30:  First open flowers today.
July 31:  A good show.
 
2003
April 29:  2 red shoots are just barely showing.
June 13:  2 buds opened today.   I watched them during the day as they opened and spread.   It was quite marvellous, after waiting nearly 4 years!
 
2002
May 22: About 6 sturdy stalks have come up in the past few days.
June 19: The leaves are yellowish, and the buds seem to be shrivelling, so I sprinkled a large dose of iron chelates around the plant.
September 7:  Doing well.

2001
May 1: Two sturdy shoots.

2000
May 9: I brushed soil away from above Festiva Maxima, to discover one old thick stem, probably in its centre, buried under about 2 inches of soil. I suspect it is planted too deep.
11: One small shoot is up.
16: I wrote to Ken Clare, who sent the plant. He said I could probably still dig it up, or leave it until autumn and dig it then. He said that 2 inches is the deepest he would recommend for Winnipeg. I dug it up, and replanted it about 5 inches higher. The root stock is much smaller than I expected. The thick stem has a lateral root coming from its base. The new shoots (there is a second shoot coming) are coming from the far end of the lateral root.
20: Mulched with grass clippings.
27: There is one flower bud.
June 27: That bud has died without growing.
August 8: It is small plant, 25 cm high, with 1 stalk.
October 4: Frost last night did not apparently harm the plant, but the top leaves are going brown.
 
1999
September 23: Kyle dug the bed, and incorporated compost.
~ 28: Two plants arrived, by mail from Frankford Nurseries, Mons Martin Cahuzac and Festiva Maxima, $50 for both. Gilbert planted them as I was away.
 

Mons Martin Cahuzac

Mons Martin Cahuzac

2014
June 20: One or 2 stems with leaves.
July 31: Two poorly developed sets of shoots. I gave them iron and fertilizer yesterday.
 
2013
May 26: Two shoots have come through.
June 23: There are a few shoots, not very tall.
September 23: They developed into many rather short stems. There were no flowers.  
2012
September 17: Surviving. A few small flowers. I hope it does better next year in this spot.
 
2011
April 17: Shoots have appeared in its new, probably temporary, location.
June 6: Many stalks but they are only half as tall as usual and the buds are especially small.
24: Two flowers.
 
2010
29: No sign of them coming through the mulch yet.
May 8: I cleared away the mulch and exposed the new shoots.
June 17: First flower.
October 11: Dug up and moved.
 
2009
January 1: No information yet.
 
2008
April 23: First shoot.
June 24: In flower now.
 
2007
May 1: Shoots.
June 16: In full flower now.
 
2006
April 18:  Many shoots are growing well.
June 3: One flower is opening.
August 1: Doing well.
 
2005
April 20:  Shoots have appeared.
June 24:  Only 3 flowers this year.
July 7:  It was a good show, but brief as the temperature was so hot for 2 days.
 
2004
April 26:  Shoots have appeared.
June 30:  First open flowers probably tomorrow.
July 31:  A good show.
 
2003
April 23:  1 shoot is just barely showing.
June 18:  This plant was the last to open, appearing fully open only yesterday or today.   Although it has the fewest flowers and they are the smallest, they are the most intricate.
 
2002
May 22: About 6 sturdy stalks have come up in the past few days.
September 7:  Doing well.
 
2001
May 1: 5 shoots.

2000
April 27: Shoots of Mons Martin Cahuzac are coming through.
May 20: Mulched with grass clippings.
June 27: It's a small bush, with no flowers.
August 8: It is small plant, 28 cm high, with 5 stalks.
October 4: Frost last night did not apparently harm the plant, but the top leaves are going brown.
 
1999
September 23: Kyle dug the bed, and incorporated compost.
~ 28: Two plants arrived, by mail from Frankford Nurseries, Mons Martin Cahuzac and Festiva Maxima, $50 for both. Gilbert planted them as I was away.