If you want to acquire new peony varieties for your garden then don’t miss the Minnesota Peony Society annual peony root auction on the last Sunday of September at Bachman’s on Lyndale. The auction gets lively as the freshly dug peony plants come up for bid. The peony roots are donated by growers from around the country as well as MPS members. There are typically 60 to 80 items up for bid and the selection of plants includes named varieties of herbaceous types, hybrids and intersectional as well as woodies (tree peonies). During the auction, a photo of the flower and its description is displayed on screen. As the auction nears, some of the offerings will be posted on the MPS website on the event tab. You can also view the listings from past years to see what is typically offered. Before the auction, there will be a fall care and dividing demonstration which offers a great opportunity to learn about peonies from the experts. If you are planning on digging healthy APS registered named varieties and would like to donate divisions, please send your list as soon as possible to email address dakotahgirl@broadband-mn.com. With plant names known ahead of time, we can have descriptions and pictures on the big screen. We will gladly accept healthy named divisions that have a minimum of 3 to 5 eyes. All proceeds go to the Minnesota Peony Society to support functions and educational programs. Get your wish list in order and hone your bidding skills for the Minnesota Peony Society Auction. In the Spring Seasons to follow, you will have many hours admiring the beautiful blooms from the plants purchased at the auction. The event is free and open to the public. Cash, checks and CCs are accepted.