I promised to send a picture of a peony as it spends the winter here in the mild California coastal zones. I needed to transplant this peony that has been in the ground for three years planted from a very small root purchased from Costco, four in a box for $9.95. Some of the root was unavoidably cut in the digging but as it is, the root is about 18 inches across. The new buds are seen, some closer to the surface are red while others are white.

The second picture shows the replanted roots with the soil having been watered into the roots. You will notice that some of the root is visible above the soil. It is my opinion that this exposure allows sufficient chilling from the winter air temperature to provide dependable blooming. The rest of my peonies that are not being moved will not have their tops cut back until they yellow as they go into dormancy.