codini

Tree peonies are actually not really difficult, but they do need support especially during our tough Connecticut winters. The huge October snowstorm last fall split my biggest one in half, although it is still alive, and ready to blossom. I've now staked and supported it all around. I too, try to buy mine at the end of the season, and the plants seem perfectly ok with that late planting. I also second cwheat000's comment about checking out White Flower Farm's collection, and to see a fabulous collection go to Cricket Hill in Thomaston, CT. They are amazing.

Ok, I vow to start more of my garden plants from seed, including the elusive Himalayan poppy, which I've wanted to grow since I first saw a picture of its amazing pure, clear 'blueness'. Also easier than the poppy to start and grow will be cleome, nasturtium, sunflowers, and single zinnias. And of course some interesting heirloom tomato varieties, and a Cinderella pumpkin vine!

Northwest Connecticut got hit very hard. Our trio of almost 20 year old white birch were bent to the ground by the weight of the snow, and haven't yet come upright...a beautiful European Hornbeam (fastigiata) also had its limbs pulled downward and broken which ruins it's clean tall narrow appearance. An old mulberry tree split to the ground...Very sad, but even more so all of the people who still don't have electricity!

Beautiful and impressive! A certain well-known nursery in north-west CT had a similar very large mixed hedge, took it down, and restarted another which is now five or six years old and worth checking out.

Thanks Michelle for pics of your late garden. I'm in CT also and get great pleasure from my October garden, late asters, perennial mums, a few calendula and viola and renewed coreopsis. So much loves the colder weather. I'm pruning raspberries, and even finding some late fruit there!
Mamatina

mmm, I got 17 too...although obviously some plants are perennials somewhere always!