question for all the peony pushers... I LOVE the flower but have had not experience with the plant. Last year I planted one that seemed to do well and flowered but it kept tipping over. then i noticed a lot of people in my neighborhood who have peonies have the same thing. Is that just how it works? Or can you make the stems stronger somehow?

It takes a long time for lilac bushes to bloom and their season is very short. Unless you are planning to be in this area a long time, ir, csn find an old lilac bush and transplant, forget about lilacs. Peonies, however, love this atea.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I miss lilacs So. Much. The city I grew up in had a lilac festival every year and I always swore that when I bought a house, I'd plant a lilac. Then I learned this isn't the best climate for them. . There are a few that do better I think- recently picked up Southern Living's plant guide- it's huge and a great resource so far.

Lombard, IL?

Rochester, NY?

One thing that I would think would do better here would be tulips - down South they don't come back but here every year. We're really more southern than northern when it comes to gardening. Hydrangeas do well as mentioned - I especially love panicle ones. I do mostly perennials which might not be good for you but balloon flowers are one of my favorites - they are very happy here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:here's how I got my lilacs, peonies and daffodills. I found an old house that was torn with just the foundation and was about to be made into townhomes. I took all the old antique garden plants that had survived years of being untended. I got two free lilacs that bloom for about 4 weeks each year, a dozen peonies, tulips, daffodills, blueberries...

oooo. great idea. if it's growing like a weed with no care, it will probably thrive with a little care!

That's where my antique rose originally came from!

Have you considered a monarch garden, OP?

Just saw something saying monarch will be extinct in a few years. Sad.

Anonymous wrote:I miss lilacs So. Much. The city I grew up in had a lilac festival every year and I always swore that when I bought a house, I'd plant a lilac. Then I learned this isn't the best climate for them. . There are a few that do better I think- recently picked up Southern Living's plant guide- it's huge and a great resource so far.

Lombard, IL?

Anonymous wrote:here's how I got my lilacs, peonies and daffodills. I found an old house that was torn with just the foundation and was about to be made into townhomes. I took all the old antique garden plants that had survived years of being untended. I got two free lilacs that bloom for about 4 weeks each year, a dozen peonies, tulips, daffodills, blueberries...

oooo. great idea. if it's growing like a weed with no care, it will probably thrive with a little care!

here's how I got my lilacs, peonies and daffodills. I found an old house that was torn with just the foundation and was about to be made into townhomes. I took all the old antique garden plants that had survived years of being untended. I got two free lilacs that bloom for about 4 weeks each year, a dozen peonies, tulips, daffodills, blueberries...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lilacs struggle here doe to our hot, humid summers. Look for varieties specially developed to handle this: Miss Kim does well. Peonies do great, but will not flower first year.

Previous Anti-Miss Kim poster here--my Miss Kim always looks like crap with drying up leaves by July and the flowers don't actually smell like anything. Is it possible I have a fake Miss Kim!?! I have neighbors with old, established lilacs that smell heavenly and look great, so it can be done here. I would go to a garden center and pick out a lilac in bloom.

Mine was beautiful. Until the landscaping firm cut down the 5 foot shrub calling it a weed. Idiots. They are particular about location and actually prefer a bit of shade in this area.

Anonymous wrote:Lilacs struggle here doe to our hot, humid summers. Look for varieties specially developed to handle this: Miss Kim does well. Peonies do great, but will not flower first year.

Previous Anti-Miss Kim poster here--my Miss Kim always looks like crap with drying up leaves by July and the flowers don't actually smell like anything. Is it possible I have a fake Miss Kim!?! I have neighbors with old, established lilacs that smell heavenly and look great, so it can be done here. I would go to a garden center and pick out a lilac in bloom.

Anonymous wrote:Have you considered a monarch garden, OP?

OP here; yes, saw that post. Will get some milkweed.

We had monarchs where I'm from but they are from a different route; they stopped in our area and didn't go to Mexico. I grew up with them in the Eucalyptus trees by a creek.

Ok I'll also try hydrangeas!

But was trying to go for a few things that I couldn't do back home. To branch out, LOL!

I would go with hydrangeas. Mine is quite large, about 4 1/2ft tall, but it's pretty mature. You can easily prune and keep it manageable. The blooms last a long time and are great cuttings for inside.

Have you considered a monarch garden, OP?

I miss lilacs So. Much. The city I grew up in had a lilac festival every year and I always swore that when I bought a house, I'd plant a lilac. Then I learned this isn't the best climate for them. . There are a few that do better I think- recently picked up Southern Living's plant guide- it's huge and a great resource so far.