Thanks Joanna!

I purchase plants from a variety of sources, this plant is available online and at native plant nurseries. You would want to check first by phone, email or the catalog.

Yes it is!

Good to hear from you Mike! :)

It's been a long time since I wrote this post. I had to back and see what you were talking about. At various homes I have maintained a compost pile, going back more than twenty years. I usually have used kitchen trimmings, leaves and grass clippings in those. At that particular home I was grateful to have a municipal compost option (progressive Minnesota) for larger plant waste and woody material. I'm sure you would agree that's better than the trash? Not everyone has room or permission for composting, especially in urban Minneapolis like where I live now. Thanks goodness for our organic waste program!

How timely Ella! I'm going to be writing a newspaper piece on re-seeding plants soon. I love your phrase "editor".

Hi Dawn: Since I'm not familiar with the climate conditions in Montana, I suggest you call your nearest Extension office/Master Gardener hotline to make sure you have the right advice before you do any cutting. Best of luck and let me know what they said! --R

Hi Nancy: Without knowing your geographic area and other particulars to your garden I hesitate to diagnose this. I'm including a link to my extension's website that talks about fungal diseases that strike peonies. Since some of the diseases are serious I wouldn't want to give the wrong advice. You may want to take a leaf sample or good photo to your extension office or a reliable garden center for further thoughts. http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/yard-garden/flowers/diseases-of-peony/ I hope it's something treatable since Bartzellas are expensive. And so beautiful.

Hi Tina: I know what you mean, sometimes a blank slate is confusing. I would plant ammonia somewhere from middle of bed to back depending upon what height your other plants will be. I would especially like to see it planted where the sun will backlight it in the morning or late afternoon in fall. It's really beautiful then. I'm glad I changed my mind about it! Do give it lots of space as it can spread a lot when it's planted in a "happy" place.

Thanks for stopping by Meghan. You make some great points, you're on top of the pollinator issues! I discuss all of this in depth in my book Pollinator Friendly Gardening, that's due out in February 2016. I'm aware of the studies and have talked with people involved with them for my book. It seems that there is no blanket verdict for pollinator value of cultivars. Unfortunately that has to evaluated on a case by case basis. Meanwhile I've found pollinator activity on these plants, however that might not be the case in other regions. The best thing we can do is plant more flowers. I don't judge and don't discourage people from planting the flowers they enjoy. Out of all those flowers surely there will be some that benefit pollinators. Until then I educate people about the value of native plants, however native is a very loose term. It's better to consider how every plant fits into the overall ecosystem of your particular yard. Thanks for challenging my post, keeps me on my toes. Consider joining us for #pollin8rchat!