Donna I notice your mention of tree peonies in your letter this week - I love peonies - have 8 at the moment and have always wanted to try a tree but wonder if it would survive in Calgary??? Could it be grown in a pot abd brought inside for the winter? Anyone have any experience doing it that way in cold areas?

you are in the same zone as I am, the only difference being you get the chinooks..:) so what I would suggest is rather than taking them in for the winter, which is something I do not think they would enjoy, to wrap them in the winter. I take mine and as soon as we get a really hard and long frost, spread shredded leaves around the base of the plant up as high as I can, then wrap them in burlap and pour more of the shredded leaves down to cover as much as possible. They set buds on the old growth and these are want you want to try an protect from the changes in weather. You do not cut down tree peonies, but you can take off the old dead leaves.

I have been doing this for about 5 years now, and although they don't get as high as they do in England, they grow about 3 feet high and produce many flowers.

Thanks Donna- Ill try one next year.