Peony

Notes on gardening, seasons, and taking things slowly.

Dividing peonies in early autumn

The rule I keep coming back to: three to five eyes per division, and never plant the crown deeper than five centimetres. Everything else is negotiable — soil, spacing, how much you fuss over mulch.

This year I moved four clumps from the east bed. Two of them had not bloomed in three seasons, which usually means they were buried too deep by well-meaning topdressing.

A short list of things that did not work

Sowing foxglove in July. Watering tomatoes on a timer. Trusting a label that says "compact".

On keeping a garden notebook

Dates and weather, nothing more. The temptation is to write down plans, but plans age badly. Observations keep.